Noreen Ligino-Kubinski: Candidate Profile

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Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioQA Bio City: West ChicagoWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: West Chicago City Council Ward 7 Age: 58Family: Spouse: Paul KubinskiOccupation: Assistant Project Coordinator-HBK Engineering LLC. Retired from Exelon/ComEd with 33 years service.Education: Moser-Robert Morris Chicago Business School Chicago, Illinois Secretarial Science; DePaul University Chicago, Business Administration CoursesCivic involvement: Moraine Valley Community College Foundation - Board of Trustee DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference Choose DuPage - Former Board/Government Affairs Committee Member Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce - Former MemberElected offices held: West Chicago Fire Protection District Board of Trustee - August 2012 to PresentQuestions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I am running for Alderman of Ward 7, City of West Chicago, because I feel that I am uniquely qualified to help carry out the positive successes of the City of West Chicago. As a 15 year resident of West Chicago, the combination of my business, utility and government acumen will allow me to make a difference for the constituents of West Chicago. My strong passion and interpersonal working relationships with federal, state and local elected officials, business and community leaders, enables me to be accessible, responsive and deliver results to the constituents of West Chicago. I am hard working and an energetic consensus builder, who gets things done.What is your opinion of your community's present level of local sales and property taxes? Is the tax just right, too low or too high? Explain.The current sales tax rate of 7.75% is appropriate given the current financial condition of the City of West Chicago. I attended the December 15, 2014 City Council meeting and I was pleased that City Council approved the 2015 budget and a decrease of 6.60% compared to the 2014 budget. There are no tax fees or rate increases and no service reductions proposed in the budget and the property tax levy is proposed to remain the same for the fourth year in a row. Mayor Ruben Pineda, City Council, Finance Committee, and administration are to be commended to their hard work and fiscal responsibility. As Alderman, I will carefully watch City spending to ensure that the tax payers receive the most value for their tax dollars.Rate the efficiency of your town's police and fire coverage. Are the departments well prepared for the next decade? What, if anything, should be changed? Do you have specific public safety concerns?I feel very safe and secure in West Chicago. I have confidence in both the police and fire departments. As a West Chicago Fire Protection District Trustee, I was involved in the search for selection of our new Fire Chief, Patrick Tanner. Police and Fire Departments are staffed with top-flight individuals. For a second year in a row, West Chicago has been named in the top 100 safest cities in America for a population of 25,000 or more by Neighborhood Scout. Both police and fire department employees have solid relationships with our schools, businesses and residents and the offer a variety of educational safety programs As Alderman, I will continue to keep the City of West Chicago a safe place to live, raise a family and operate a business.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?The City of West Chicago has been very successful in streamlining the budget without affecting services. I believe a primary area where budgets could be trimmed involve shared services. The various local municipal taxing bodies duplicate various services and therefore sharing services could save additional money. As Alderman, I will explore if opportunities exist in joint purchasing agreements of items such as paper, computer technology, landscaping, building maintenance and insurance. Exploring opportunities of shared services and resources could allow all taxing bodies to reduce expenses.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?With my background and experiences, my goal as Alderman is to proactively keep our City of West Chicago infrastructure and services state-of-the art, up-to-date, and ahead of the curve to focus on the future.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?As Alderman I will be committed to serving the residents of West Chicago and working with Mayor Ruben Pineda and City Council members to: â#128;cent;Continue to create an environment to attract businesses and commercial development into West Chicago. The more development of businesses will lower property taxes, increase access to jobs, dining and shopping for our residents. â#128;cent;Continue to work together in implementing the Healthy West Chicago Project Action Plan for all residents.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Pope FrancisWhat's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Work Hard Be Kind and Helpful to OthersIf life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would not change one thingWhat was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Geography - It inspired me to travel the world and experience cultures and customs.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Complete your Education