Peter Ladesic: 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: Glen EllynWebsite: voteladesic.comOffice sought: Glen Ellyn Village Board Age: 53Family: Married to wife Lori. We have Twin Daughters Mary and Hannah who are both Freshmen at Boston College and a Son Jonah who is a Junior at Wheaton Academy.Occupation: Home Builder / Property DeveloperEducation: Attended College of DuPage before going into Business for myself at age 23. Various professional courses past/presentCivic involvement: From being involved with the Glen Ellyn Jaycees in my youth to serving 20 years as a Glen Ellyn Police Reserve and then serving for the past 7 years as a Village Trustee, I have been actively involved in Glen Ellyn community service organizations for over 35 years.Elected offices held: Village Trustee - Present Liquor Commissioner Trustee Liaison - Historic Preservation Commission, Environmental Commission, Architectural Review Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals Glen Ellyn Police Reserves - Recruitment Sergeant, Range Sergeant, Training Sergeant Glen Ellyn Jaycees - ChairmanQuestions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I am currently a Village Trustee and have demonstrated that I am committed to spending the time and effort necessary for the position. An 87 year old resident of the village complimented me the other day as being "the voice of the people" While humbled by that, I have tried to bring an independent, common sense approach to village issues and will continue to do that into my next term.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.In short I believe that our sales and property tax rates are too high. The state of Illinois has one of the highest sales tax rates in the nation at 6.5% and Glen Ellyn, along with many municipalities in Illinois, has added percentages to that rate. For many years our sales tax rate stood at 7.25%. In 2009 a measure was presented to our board to raise the sales tax rate 1% to help close a budget gap. Myself and other Trustees opposed the increase but the measure had enough votes to pass. I continue to push for measures that would allow us to go back to the 7.25% or less. Glen Ellyn relies heavily on property and income tax due to not having a large retail or commercial tax base. That being said, it was reported recently that we hold the title of having one of the highest property tax rates among our peer communities. We owe it to our residents to hold the line on taxes. I was instrumental in initiating and passing a 0% levy increase this year to demonstrate this commitment to our residents and to serve as an example to other taxing bodies.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?Glen Ellyn enjoys exceptional Police and Fire Service. We are fortunate to have such professional Police and Fire Chiefs who demand trained professionals on their staffs. Our police department frequently receives accolades from our residents, oddly enough, even when citations are issued. While both departments demonstrate an efficient use of our residents tax dollars, both are facing facility needs that we will have to address in the near future. Our Fire Department is comprised of dedicated volunteers whose tireless efforts save our community millions of dollars but having the right training and equipment is paramount in their success. While I am completely confident in our Police Departments ability to currently serve and protect our residents we must ensure that they have the necessary means and facilities to address changing laws and a changing criminal landscape.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?There are always areas where we can trim the budget. With salaries and benefits as one of our greatest expenses, we need to continue to review staffing, ensuring value for every salary dollar spent. If there is an area that we could allocate more funds to it would definitely be in economic development. Effectively spent economic development dollars can reap rewards tenfold and economic development is one of the few ways we can increase non property tax based revenues.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?I would like to encourage other trustees to run for a successive term or two to better enable our community to accomplish more and keep up with many of our peer communities. While Civic Betterment Party candidates traditionally serve one term, it is this tradition, in mine and many other residents opinions, that is the reason that for years we have stagnated on so many needed initiatives in our community.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Economic development/revenue enhancement, cost/tax reductions and public safety to name just a few. In support of these, the priorities in my next term will be to ensure that some of the initiatives started in my first two terms come to fruition. These range from the economic revitalization of our three business districts to addressing the public safety and economic development needs for a vehicular and pedestrian under/overpass in our central business district and addressing the needs of our Police and Fire departments.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Wisconsin Governor, Scott WalkerWhat's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Actions have consequences.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?With a few minor exceptions I wouldn't change a thing. I have been blessed with a full life in the greatest country on earth.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Science especially psychology. Not a day goes by that I don't wonder why people do some of the things that they do : )If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Where there is doubt, faith.