Sam Lissner: Candidate profile
Bio
Name: Sam Lissner
City: Elk Grove Village
Office sought: Village Trustee
Age (on election day): 77
Family: Married to Dolores; Daughter Sheryl; Son-in-Law Pat; Grandchildren Matthew and Lauren
Occupation: Retired after 30 years at Sargent an Lundy Engineers
Education: MBA, Keller Graduate School of Management; BA Applied Behavioral Science, National Louis University; Associates Degree Harper Community College
Civic involvement: Queen of the Rosary Church; Knights of Columbus (4h Degree); Elk Grove Village Sister Cities; Friends of Cycling Elk Grove; Friends of Harper
Previous elected offices held: Trustee Harper Community College 1986-1987 (appointed) Board Member School District 59, 1987-1995 (Board President 1992-1994)
Incumbent? If yes, when were you first elected? 1995
Website: samlissner.com
Facebook: Sam Lissner
Twitter: sam@egvtrustee
Issue questions
What are the most important issues facing your community and how do you intend to address them?
1) Address vacancies in shopping centers and Business Park. To retain businesses, our Director of Business Development arranges a daytime meeting with 3 to 4 businesses each month. We visit the businesses and listen to their needs, concerns and suggestions. The findings are shared with our Village Manager and the Board. The Board supports using tools provided by Cook County (6Bs) and incentives provided by the State. 2) Consolidate government services to save tax dollars. All governments (Local, Township and County) must work together led by the State to implement changes to improve services and reducing overlap. Some key areas of overlap are maintaining roads and providing police and fire services. 3) Make O'Hare a good neighbor to Elk Grove Village. Our Mayor as Chairman of the Suburban O'Hare Commission has been working with the City of Chicago and the O'Hare Noise Compatibility Commission for many years to reduce overnight noise quality by implementing a plan to rotate the use of runways. Now that O'Hare has regained the title of the busiest US airport the noise issue, especially during daytime hours will increase. In addition, a new runway is scheduled to open in 2020 followed by a runway extension in 2021. 4) Elk Grove 2025 Plan is updating our roads and infrastructure. The board has provided staff with the budget to implement the 2025 plan. Several roads and flood mitigation projects have been completed. A remodeled public works facility was completed in 2018 and a new public works facility opened in January 2019, Two new fire stations will open in the summer 0f 2019. An interactive map showing Elk Grove 2025 projects is available on the village website.
What makes you the best candidate for the job?
I'm as enthusiastic about serving as Village Trustee as I was when I was first elected. I believe all elected officials must be public servants, period. I encourage residents and businesses to feel free to contact me with any concerns or suggestions. I learn much more by listening than by speaking.
Describe your leadership style and explain how you think that will be effective in producing actions and decisions with your village board.
My leadership style is collaborative. Boards must work as a team to be successful. This does not mean there are not disagreements but once a consensus is reached I support the decision. I also believe in studying an issue and learning as much as I can by being curious before making a decision.
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?
Our budget is in excellent condition due to our outstanding staff. The business park vacancy rate is at an all time low and we our seeing some growth in some of our shopping centers. However, we are always aware that economies have ups and downs and we have to be prepared for change.
What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?
The village currently has a Citizens Police Academy and Citizens Fire Academy and both are well attended. I am working with staff to start a citizens government academy. The name of the academy is still under construction but the purpose is to provide attendees with information on each department, board, commission and committee. The academy may run for 6 to 8 weeks. One or two weeks may deal with Communications (EGTV, newsletters, social media presence, website, app, etc..). Another session may discuss the Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals. Other sessions may cover Business/Private partnerships, Community Development and so on. Hopefully after attending some residents may want to get more involved and apply to be on one of our boards, commissions or committees.