Scott Richmond: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Scott Richmond

City: South Elgin

Office sought: Village Trustee - South Elgin

Age: 50

Family: Wife, Sandy and two children

Occupation: Attorney

Education: Bachelor of Arts - Accounting (Michigan State University) and Juris Doctorate (Chicago Kent College of Law)

Civic involvement: Board of Directors for Food for Greater Elgin; Governing Board - Alignment Collaborative for Education (U-46); Board of Directors - Advocate Aurora Sherman Hospital; Board of Directors - St. Charles Bank & Trust Company

Previous elected offices held: Village Trustee - South Elgin

Incumbent? If yes, when were you first elected? Incumbent - first elected 2005

Facebook: Re-Elect Scott Richmond, Village Trustee

Issue questions

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

Budgeting for future infrastructure and road repairs. The Board has approved a ballot question for the voters of South Elgin to approve a .5% sales tax increase in the Village for this upcoming election. This is a voter decision, not a Board decision. This small increase in sales tax rate will allow the Village to properly budget for future road and infrastructure repairs. In our Village with the rapid development in the 1990s, the roads are now at the point where they are at the end of their useful life and repairs and replacements are necessary. To keep up with necessary repairs additional funding is necessary. Hopefully the voters will agree and vote in favor of the ballot question.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I have substantial experience as a trustee. During my tenure from 2005-2013 and 2014 to present, the Village has maintained a balanced budget and maintained a general fund above 50%, even during the recession. As a Trustee I have helped develop policies to enhance our infrastructure, attract new development and beautify our Village. I am fiscally conservative and my 20+ years of experience as an attorney dealing with municipal zoning matters often gives me a unique viewpoint when deciding issues affecting the Village. As a resident of South Elgin for over 20 years, I have seen enormous growth in South Elgin and I have been an integral part of bringing that grown to the Village and managing it so that all of our residents have benefited from the growth.

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 to let the Village Staff do their jobs without micromanaging them. As a Trustee I rely on the Village Staff to exercise their expertise and do what is best for the Village residents. I am always reviewing the budget progress during the year and meeting with the Village Administrator, Steve Super as necessary to keep connected to what is going on in the Village. We are very fortunate to have department heads who are extremely qualified people. Our Village staff is made up of extremely dedicated people who go out of their way for the benefit of our residents. They make it easy to manage because the Board knows that everyone works hard for our residents. The department heads know that this Village Board is supportive of their leadership and know that while the Board makes policy decisions, the day to day operations are under their control. This management style has proven very effective in South Elgin.

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?

South Elgin's budget is in excellent shape. We maintain fund balances in excess of 50%, we are properly funding our pension plans and are able to purchase the necessary equipment each year for our departments because we have always taken the position that we do not buy it until we can pay for it. Our bond rating is one of the best in the State, particularly for a community of our size. Continuing to maintain that type of fiscal responsibility and being fiscally conservative is essential. If the Voters approve the small sales tax increase (which will be primarily paid by non-South Elgin residents while shopping in South Elgin), the town can budget for repairs of roadways and infrastructure well into the future so that our residents can continue to drive on safe smooth roads. Because of our conservative budgeting, South Elgin residents have not seen increases in their Village portion of property taxes. We have one of the lowest rates in the Fox Valley. We make due with what we have and do not mortgage the future.

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

As opportunities become available, the Village should continue to purchase properties in the floodplain and floodways along the River. This will help enhance our opportunities for additional green space and reduce problems in the future. In addition, continued enhancements to the Route 31/State Street corridor using TIF Funds will help attract businesses, residents and consumers to our downtown area. South Elgin has never had a vibrant downtown area and with new developments in the area, we have a real opportunity to start creating one.