Carl Franco: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Carl Franco

City: Aurora

Office: Alderman, 5th Ward

Age: 59

Family: son Michael, 32; daughter Anna, 29.

Occupation: retired air traffic controller

Education: B.A. Law Enforcement Adm. from Western Illinois University

Civic involvement: previous FVPD trustee, board member North Aurora Baseball, 7 years; board member (president 3 years) West Aurora Sports Boosters, 11 years; mentor for at-risk youth at Aurora West High.

Previous office: 5th Ward alderman, Aurora.

Incumbent, elected April 2015

Facebook: Friends For Franco

Issue questions

What are the most important issues facing your community and how do you intend to address them?

In any community, crime prevention is the number one priority. Safe neighborhoods are a must. I meet monthly with our area lieutenant to discuss what has taken place in the ward, if there are any issues and how to address them, and going forward how to deter any problems from arising. I also meet regularly with our community police officers for a similar purpose and have them speak at my neighborhood meetings to inform our residents of any issues and how they can get involved and what actions they should take depending upon the situation.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I feel that I am the best candidate for the job because of my experience as the alderman, my 30 plus years living in the 5th ward, and my life long community involvement. Because of all this, I am uniquely in tune with the desires of the residents. In addition, due to the number of neighborhood meetings that I initiate, I have been able to get a significant amount of face-to-face feedback from my constituents.

Describe your leadership style and explain how you think that will be effective in producing actions and decisions with your village board or city council.

I would describe my leadership style as hands on. Leading by example and getting others involved has been my formula for success. I have worked on being portrayed as a public servant as opposed to a politician which has enabled me to attain a particular level of respect from the community. There is no apprehension from my constituents with regard to contacting me and discussing whatever issue is important to them. All this translates into being productive with my views and concerns as I communicate with my fellow alderman and the mayor's office.

How would you describe the condition of your community's budget, and what are the most important specific actions the town should take to assure providing the level of services people want?

Our budget is sound. Over the past decade we have been able to work with a lean city staff while still being able to provide city services. However, in order to maintain services, I believe there is a need for more economic development. Having the business community contribute revenue through sales and property taxes enables the resident's taxes to be stable while still being able to provide the daily services that we have come to expect.

What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?

I share my ideas with my constituents so there are no secret ideas of mine. However, I believe that in order to garner more economic development, we need to increase our "roof tops". What that means is we need to have more density in the ward where there is undeveloped areas zoned residential. Part of the formula for businesses to locate in certain areas is how may people live there and hence shop there. Developing these areas for more residential housing is what I will attempt to achieve going forward so we are more attractive for those businesses we desire to locate here.