Walt Zlotow: 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: www.zlotow4parkdistrict.comOffice sought: Glen Ellyn Park Board Age: 69Family: Wife, two daughters and one grandson.Occupation: Retired logistics managerEducation: BA Sociology, University of Chicago MA Urban Teaching, Roosevelt UniversityCivic involvement: Chairman, 56th Kimbark Tenant Association, Hyde Park, Chicago, 1971 Chairman, Lincoln Hill Homeowners Association, Glen Ellyn, 1989Elected offices held: NoneQuestions Answers What programs aren't paying for themselves? Would you keep, eliminate or change them? How and why?If programs are providing a need to the park district community, they don't have to pay for themselves. They are paid for by our taxes and other revenue sources. Many programs do have a user fee such as the clay tennis courts that I use. These user fees do help support the park district budget, primarily funded by taxes. However, there is no mandate that they pay the entire cost of such programs. Cost is one factor, along with value and need that determines keeping or cancelling current and future programs that have a user fee.Is there any additional open space the park district needs to acquire? Please describe.To best of my knowledge there is no additional open space that the park district needs to acquire.Are there any unmet recreational needs? If yes, what are they and how would you propose paying for them? Or, should they wait until the economy improves?We have so many recreational opportunities at our 31 parks, I am not aware of any not being met. However, I'm sure there may be some. I would reach out for community feedback to determine what they might be, if any.Would you support sharing/pooling resources (i.e. printing, vehicles) with other local governments (school districts, village, etc.)? If so, what areas would you consider combining or merging to save money or improve efficiency?I support the concept of sharing/pooling resources to save money. I would need to be on the Park Board to find out what opportunities would be available to the Glen Ellyn Park District.If you are a newcomer, what prompted you to run for the park board? If you're an incumbent, list your accomplishments or key initiatives in which you played a leadership role.I'm a lifelong sports and recreation enthusiast who has used city parks for 7 decades. I also have 42 years business experience delivering excellent customer service at a reasonable price. I feel this excellent combination of business skills and passion for recreation will make me a wise choice to oversee the continuation of Glen Ellyn's excellent parks financed by reasonable taxes.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?My study of the Glen Ellyn Park district re-affirms my belief that our park district taxes are be spent wisely to provide excellent sports, recreation and park district facilities. It is vital that we continue to build and grow on the strong foundation that is currently in place.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Barack ObamaWhat's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Living life with a sense of personal integrity and meaning. Doing that insures a life worth living.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Getting involved in humanitarian issues such as achieving civil rights for all, opposing senseless war and saving the environment sooner.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?History. It's both fascinating and critical to understanding the need to work relentlessly for human progress.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Teach them to open their hearts to the wonder of our one and only life. And I did.