Ryan Bongard: Candidate profile

Bio

Name

Ryan S. Bongard

City

Saint Charles

Office Sought

City Council, Alderman (Ward 2)

Age

37

Family

Wife Stefanie of 10 years, and three sons

Civic Involvement

President & Treasurer of Charlemagne Homeowners Association

Board Member of St. Charles Youth Baseball Program

Volunteer Coach for Storm Basketball Program

Political Beat Reporter for Examiner Newsletter

Previous Roles

Founder & Chief Officer of Twelve21 LLC

Member of the Young Entrepreneur Council

Vice President of Operations at Owner Connect

Master of Science in Business Analytics, University of Notre Dame

Bachelor of Arts in Law & Justice, Concordia University Chicago

Incumbent: No

Website: www.ryanbongard.com

Facebook: Ryan Bongard for City Council

Twitter: @RyanSBongard

Issue questions

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

Like many communities in Illinois, we have several obstacles which will test our ability to maintain existing standards. In Ward 2, residents are all too familiar with the nearly vacant Charlestowne Mall complex. After numerous market studies, planning sessions and investment, we are no closer to finding an answer. The current City Council has had more than enough time to find a solution which is why we need new leadership to tackle this problem. Secondly, as Saint Charles nears the completion of the First Street project, there has been an increase of new tax programs to cover projected funding gaps. These deficits, caused by city investment and operational costs, should not be passed along to our residents who already face some of the highest taxes in the country. The City Council must find a way to operate within existing budgets to both invest in city improvements and protect the financial security of its residents. Finally, in Ward 2, voter turnout and engagement has decreased nearly 20 percent over the last four election cycles. If elected, my priority will be creating a more inclusive environment, so residents understand how important they are in tackling city issues and planning.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I am the best candidate for Alderman because I offer a combination of professional success, education and personal investment not currently embodied by the individuals representing Ward 2 on the City Council. As the Founder and Chief Officer of a small business, I have intimate knowledge of responsible fiscal management while developing creative solutions to excite customers and motivate staff members. I believe this type of experience is desperately needed in finding a new path for the Charlestowne Mall project, balancing our budget and energizing citizen participation in local government. Secondly, my formal training in law & justice as well as business analytics offers residents representation with a more diverse skill set required to face both the current as well as future challenges facing Saint Charles. We must ensure our elected officials offer residents both the experience and formal instruction to match industry, market or cultural change. Lastly, I am the best candidate to represent Ward 2 because my voice and family dynamic offer a greater representation of most households in our district. My candidacy will contribute in the improved engagement of our residents which will improve the City Council's ability to represent their interests and move our city forward.

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.

As a small-business owner, community activist and father I have the fortune of facing a multitude of situations which require strong leadership. I believe leadership is built on three characteristics: authenticity, vision and results. If our representatives are going to be successful, they must be genuine, they must clearly illustrate their decision-making process and finally they need to deliver results. My approach to leadership, in every situation, is built from these characteristics. I am a leader who values the opinion of those around me, someone who values input from every vantage point and explores all potential outcomes before coming to a final decision. If elected to City Council, I will use my leadership experience to build new relationships and strengthen existing ones between city officials, our residents and local business leaders so there is absolute transparency and consensus on all issues. I will be an Alderman who is proactive, who will engage every resident to ensure their opinion is heard and a person who will take absolute ownership of every outcome - regardless of the result.

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?

I would describe the current condition of our City budget as fragile. While many residents and local business eagerly await the completion of the First Street project and the forecast financial impact it will bring, the operational costs have required new taxes to be levied. I do not approve of the City Council's recent decisions to pass new taxes on gasoline, hotels and alcohol. Especially as the City currently considers the first property tax levy increase in nearly a decade. What I see is a budget that unfortunately appears to be expanding beyond its current capability. We need local representation to work within existing budgets, who will reduce expenses and make every dollar count. Our community has so much to offer but we should not ask our residents or local business owners to pay more so the city can make ends meet. Freezing existing budgets or trimming nonessential spending is one approach but it's not the only step. The City needs a new strategy to bringing creative alternatives to fill vacant commercial space. As an entrepreneur, this is exactly the type of work I specialize in. If elected, I will help bring innovative business concepts to the entire city.

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

A few years ago, Route 64 was expanded to make it a four-lane highway which extended from the City's west gate to the east side of town. This expansion was extremely helpful in reducing traffic delays and making it more convenient to get from one side of town to the next. However, this expansion has only made walking in our downtown more dangerous. If you have ever spent an afternoon or evening visiting downtown, you know you must be vigilant because we have a major roadway hugging nearly fifty percent of the commercial space in our downtown. With the First Street project nearing completion, I worry this traffic is only going to increase and an already dangerous downtown could result in a serious incident. It may be a difficult project from an engineering prospective, but with the very strong possibility of even more traffic to our downtown the City Council should work with the county and state on contingency plans on how to make this main artery safe for commuters and patrons.