Julie Fox: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Julie Fox

City: West Dundee

Office sought: Village Trustee

Age: 61

Family: Divorced mother of two grown children. One of eight siblings, two deceased, who all live in the Chicago area.

Occupation: Controller

Education: B.S. with Distinction in Biochemistry, University of IL Champaign-Urbana (1980); B.S. with Honors in Biology, University of IL Chicago (1981); Certified Public Accountant, 1995.

Civic involvement: Heritage Fest Volunteer 2017

Previous elected offices held: Fox River Valley Public Library District trustee, 2001-2005. Treasurer of library board 2003-2005. Budget and Operations committees 2001-2005.

Incumbent? No.

Website: JulieFoxTrustee.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FoxforWestDundeeTrustee/

Issue questions

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

• Taxes: West Dundee is a home rule community, and as such its board members have been exercising their power to raise taxes without referendum with too much frequency and in increments that are too large. As Village Trustee, I will ensure that the board is looking at all possible alternatives before increasing taxes and that the reasons for considering such increases are legitimate.

• Zoning: Current zoning laws discourage businesses from operating in West Dundee and disallow homeowners from bringing in additional income through homes or room rentals. As Village Trustee, I will allow Airbnb rentals for residents as long as issues do not exist. I will also work to repeal zoning laws which disallow reputable organizations s from setting up business in certain areas of our town.

• Representation: I believe, as our Founding Fathers did, that government should be of the people, by the people, and for the people. Residents and business owners have complained that board members do not consider their concerns. As Village Trustee, I will hold regular informal meetings with West Dundee residents to share village updates with them and to allow them to voice their concerns and questions.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I have worked to bring better government to the Fox Valley through accountability, fiscal responsibility, and better representation since I became involved in local politics in 1995. As a Certified Public Accountant who also has over 25 years of experience in business management, I have a great deal of experience in managing finances and in managing private-sector businesses where the bottom line is critical. I also have experience in the public sector. In 2001 I won election to the Dundee Township Library District (now the Fox River Valley Public Library District) Board and was subsequently re-elected in 2005 for an additional term. While a member of the Board, I served on the Budget Committee and the Operations Committee from 2000 to 2005, and served as Treasurer from 2003 to 2005. I enjoyed a good working relationship during that time with fellow board members and library staff.

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 have worked successfully in management positions in the private sector and in politics for over 25 years. I am able to work well with others given my ability to take an objective viewpoint and to make the decision I feel is the principled one while respecting the decision of fellow board members who do not agree.

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?

Board members have been doing a good job of increasing reserves over the last several years. West Dundee's board has been more responsible in spending taxpayer dollars than have some other local communities, but still holds a substantial amount of debt in general obligation bonds. Board members need to carefully weigh the benefits of development projects against the cost to the taxpayers.

The village does a good job in providing basic services. The increase in downtown parking spaces over the last couple years has been a big improvement. One area where the village can improve is in clearing public sidewalks of snow. In general, though, the village does a very good job in providing services. I see little need for improvement in that regard.

Where the village can improve, however, is in reducing the number of restrictive ordinances in order to attract more businesses and to allow residents more freedom in how they use their properties. The village's current winter parking ordinances are unnecessarily restrictive; they should be reviewed and revamped.

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

As Village Trustee, I will hold regular informal meetings with West Dundee residents to share village updates with them and to allow them to voice their concerns and questions. The village board attempted to better connect to residents a few years ago when they walked through town in order to be accessible. Unfortunately, the result was that a number of homeowners were cited for ordinance violations. Board members need to take other, more positive approaches to making themselves accessible and encouraging residents to become more involved with local government. I intend to lead by example in this regard.