Neil Buchelt: 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: LisleWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Lisle Park Board Age: 47Family: Married for 20 years to wife Sue. Four children, Sydney 10, Zoey 7, Samantha 7, Jackson 7. Both Sue and I were born and raised in Lisle, and most immediate family of each also reside in Lisle.Occupation: President/Owner of Advanced Imaging, Inc., located in Lisle.Education: B.S. Aviation Management, Southern Illinois University A.A.S Aviation Flight, Southern Illinois University Lisle Senior High School, Class of 1987Civic involvement: Lisle Area Chamber of Commerce, Chicago Area Chamber of CommerceElected offices held: Lisle Park BoardQuestions Answers Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you, and if so, what is it?While there are no specific issues for the reason that I am running for Park Board again, my goal is to continue the preservation of quality parks and programs that the Lisle Park District provides.How do you assess the state of the district's finances? What, if any, changes do you propose to alter the district's financial picture, whether through cost reduction or revenue increases? Please be as specific as possible on where you would propose cutting or how you would propose increasing revenue.Two years ago, the Lisle Park District lead the charge in a cost recovery program, educating the board, staff and community on how well the District manages and maintains an excellent and responsible financial position.What programs aren't paying for themselves? Would you keep, eliminate or change them? How and why?Programs are evaluated every year and the cost recovery plays a major roll in decisions regarding adding, keeping and eliminating programs.Are there any unmet recreational needs? If yes, what are they and how would you propose paying for them?There are always unmet needs when it comes to public entities. However, I believe that the Park District staff and board does an excellent job of listening and assessing the needs of the community, making smart decisions when the time comes.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.Over the past four years, we have seen program revenue up, extending our community outreach by increasing our social media along with other means of communication with residents, cut costs due to our cost recovery program, worked with specific neighborhoods to provide solutions for nearby parks and installed a new Veterans Memorial, just to name a few.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?It is important that the quality of programming, cost recovery management and fiscally responsibility of the District continues to provide our community at the highest level.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, changed fundamental ways of business, impacting society. I want to make that difference in my own way.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Everything happens for a reason.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Asides spending more time with my father, as he passed when I was young, I don't think I would need a do-over.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?I loved band and music. Music can help clear your mind and keep you moving.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Be true to yourself always. You are who you are and no one can take that away from you.