Cathy Cawiezel: Candidate profile
Bio
Name: Cathy Cawiezel
City: Village of Lisle
Office sought: Trustee
Age: Did not reply
Family: Did not reply
Occupation: Controller
Education: Bachelor's in business administration/finance from Marquette University
Civic involvement: President, Lisle Woman's Club; board member, Lisle Heritage Society; board member, Friends of the Lisle Library; co-chairwoman, Downtown Lisle Car Shows; finance committee, St. Joan of Arc Parish
Previous elected offices held: Trustee, Village of Lisle
Incumbent? If yes, when were you first elected? Yes. 2011
Website: None
Facebook: Cathy Cawiezel
Twitter: None
Issue questions
* What are the most important issues facing your community and how do you intend to address them?
Delivering consistent high quality municipal services in a fiscally responsible manner. Guiding growth and development that is business friendly while at the same time being sensitive to the quality of life residents deserve and expect. I intend to continue to support the strategy of streamlined service delivery. This has enabled the Village to have no increase in the real estate tax levy and to make pension deposits in excess of state requirements for two consecutive years. I intend to continue to support the Village's endeavor to adopt and maintain appropriate zoning code.
* What makes you the best candidate for the job?
I am a lifelong Lisle resident with family roots here dating to 1843. This gives me a fully vested interest in a high quality of life in this community. My substantive professional background in accounting and the experience I've earned as Trustee to date are assets that help me well serve the residents of the Village of Lisle.
* 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.
Collegial, collaborative, and responsive. Leaders serve best when they are eager to consider and learn from the wealth of knowledge and perspectives brought by each and every member of the bard and staff, and when they listen to the residents and learn from their knowledge and perspectives as well.
* 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?
The Village's budget is in excellent condition. There is no debt save for the bonds issued many years ago for the Benedictine University sports complex. The board has hired executive staff wisely, and supported them in the development of strategies that have increased efficiencies and streamlined costs. Just two of many examples: the Chief of Police developed a robust volunteer program that not only provides community services in an economical manner but also engages residents in a very positive manner. The village Manager outsourced IT services and was a catalyst for this arrangement benefiting another local governmental unit as well.
* What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?
I am in the process of leveraging my relationship within the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus to encourage the Village of Lisle to participate in that organization's Greenest Region Compact. This will be a significant step towards reaching Lisle's stated goal of "further incorporating environmentally sustainable practices into Village operations."