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Marc J. Spacone: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Marc J. Spacone

City: Lake Zurich

Office sought: Village of Lake Zurich Trustee - 4 Year Term

Age: 46

Family: Wife (Donna), 4 Children (Emily, Nicholas, Matthew, Adam)

Occupation: Public School Administrator and University Professor

Education: BA - Northern Illinois University, Political Science (Public Service), MEd - DePaul University, Teaching and Learning, MA - Northeastern Illinois University, Educational Administration

Civic involvement: Village of Lake Zurich Trustee 2015 - Present, Lake Zurich Zoning Board of Appeals 2014-2015; Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 Superintendent Search Focus Group; Volunteer: LZ Fourth of July Celebration, Alpine Fest, Farmer's Market, Craft Beer Fest, Miracle on Main, Ela Soccer Club Field lining/setup

Previous elected offices held: Village of Lake Zurich Trustee 2015 - Present, Northern Illinois University Student Senator 1993-1994

Incumbent? Yes. If yes, when were you first elected? Elected 2014

Website:

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

Twitter: @mspacone

Issue questions

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

The most important issues facing our community are the updating of our Comprehensive/Strategic Plan as we address villagewide concerns with aging infrastructure such as our water supply, sewers and roads while maintaining our strong financial standing with AAA Bond rating while holding the line on property taxes. In other words, continuing to offer increased levels of services while holding the line on expenditures and keeping the budget balanced. Over the last couple of years, the Lake Zurich Progress Party has worked with staff to develop a 20 year Capital Improvement Plan that allows for proactive management of resources with flexibility to handle emergencies as they occur. It is our intention to continue to be proactive in investing in our infrastructure to avoid costly emergency repairs.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

Accomplishments. When I was first elected I was able to work with Mike Brown, Public Works Director to resurrect a long forgotten plan to enhance the crosswalk at Chasewood Dr. and Cuba Road connecting the Chasewood North subdivision with Isaac Fox Elementary and Middle School South. The project took almost four years to gain various IDOT and LCDOT approvals but we were able to utilize grant funding to widen public sidewalks in the surrounding area while adding button operated flashing lights at the dangerous Cuba Road crossing providing safer passage for generations of children to come. The Tobacco 21 initiative is one that is important to me as we were able to couple electronic and alternative tobacco products to the same limits as tobacco while raising the age to 21 for purchase. Additionally we enacted moratorium's on new Vape Shops and stand-alone gaming establishments throughout the community and challenged staff to explore zoning options for these establishments. I along with the rest of the Lake Zurich Progress Party do not have any individual agenda other than to serve the village in the most representative way possible. The decisions that I make are always grounded in "what's in the best interest of the resident's we serve" and not due to any "Not in My Back Yard" (NIMBY) concerns.

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.

My leadership style is one of transparency, authenticity and honesty. If something does not feel right, I have and will continue to ask questions and probe for more information to make an informed decision. If there is disagreement, I will seek to find a win-win for all parties involved. Most importantly, I want to understand the "why" in any situation. Once the "why" is determined, issues are better understood and meaningful discussions can occur. There are no absolutes in our world and I never assume such a position, which is what I believe makes me effective in producing actions and decisions with our village board and staff.

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 budget in Lake Zurich is a model for other communities. The 20 Year Capital Improvement Plan has helped transform our budgeting process. We have reduced full-time staff while increasing services to our residents. Through the shift of our budget cycle from the fiscal calendar to the annual calendar, we have been able to achieve operations efficiencies due to the timing of our bid process for projects. For example, this has allowed us to increase the miles of road repaved than originally planned since the bids come in under budget, so we are literally able to go the extra mile. Over the last four years, I have been personally invested in working with the Village Board to hire and retain an excellent professional staff that has been able to increase the level of services for our community. Over this time, we have been successful in reducing full-time staff as we have streamlined operational efficiencies and allow for residents' tax dollars to go toward important public services rather than bloated payrolls.

Through increased public-private partnerships like the award-winning Sunset Pavilion at Breezewald Park, we can continue to leverage relationships to provide more for less.

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

I am working with Public Works, the Parks Department, CUSD 95 and the Ancient Oaks Foundation to explore grant funding to develop an Arboretum at Keuchmann Park. As an educator, I am excited about how we can create educational environments that will get our residents outside and active in our community.

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