Edward N. Tiesenga: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Edward N. Tiesenga

City: Village of Oak Brook

Office sought: Village Trustee

Age: 59

Family: Married to Elizabeth, two grown daughters, two grandchildren

Occupation: Attorney

Education: Timothy Christian High School, Elmhurst, IL (1977); Hope College, Holland, MI (1981); American University, Washington College of law (1984)

Civic involvement: Oak Brook Village Trustee (2015-19)

Previous elected offices held: None

Incumbent? If yes, when were you first elected?

Website: N/A

Facebook: N/A

Twitter: N/A

Issue questions

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

Our State-dictated and mandatory fire and police pension payments are about to double, from $4 Million to $8 Million annually, absorbing $120 Million between now and 2040. Corresponding actions on our part have included privatizing elements of Public Works, inserting nonunion paramedics into our Fire Dept., privatizing polo, saving $1 Million by leasing many fleet vehicles instead of reserve funding full replacement values, increasing bills for fire calls out on the Tollway and assessing higher building permit fees from developers making even more money from bigger projects. We have more opportunities to economize. Better and less duplicative technology can reduce Village costs and make government more accessible to our residents and businesses. Sharing very expensive emergency apparatus with surrounding Fire Departments is less expensive than duplicating it with redundant purchases. Our Park District is a partner to help manage our Sports Core assets. These are my fiscal priorities. Someone needs to take the overall view of our fiscal situation across departments, and that is my role as your Village Trustee.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I can provide continuity and cumulative insights gained from constant review of Village operations for the past 4 years.

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.

Data-based decisions and no-nonsense evaluation of the credibility of assertions of developers and various ingrained and in-grown spending constituencies. All of which need to fit into Oak Brook's strategic plan and unique 3-part constitution and balance of residents, recreation, and businesses.

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?

Good as far as it goes. Vaporized by impending pension increases and infrastructure spending plans, none of which can be afforded unless they are ranked and placed in the context of our overall Village reserve replacement and CAPEX program. The usual dismal science of scarcity and marginal utility.

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

Term limits. This is the last time I will run for re-election as Trustee, and others should consider limiting their time in office as well.