Stephen A. Winz: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Stephen A. Winz

City: Lisle

Office sought: Village of Lisle Trustee

Age: 42

Family: 5th Generation Lisle resident

Occupation: Operating Engineer

Education: Proud graduate of CUSD 202, University of Illinois Global Labor Studies

Civic involvement: Honored member of the Carlin Nalley Foundation; Funded the inaugural Lisle High School Industrial Arts scholarship; Participant in Lisle Alumni Wrestling Association; Founded volunteer bicycle valet program at Lisle Eyes to the Skies Festival; Organized private citizens committee to develop a system of bike paths in Lisle; Appointed by Mayor of Lisle to the Village of Lisle Bicyclist and Pedestrian Advisory Committee; Small group leader at Community Christian Church;

Previous elected offices held: None

Incumbent? If yes, when were you first elected? No.

Website: www.stephenwinz.com

Facebook: Stephen A. Winz

Twitter: None.

Issue questions

* What are the most important issues facing your community.

The lack of development in downtown Lisle is a priority. This lack of development leads to a lower tax revenue in the business sector and subsequently leaves the financial burden on the residents who are facing higher taxes than in surrounding communities. Lisle's extremely unique infrastructure needs to be better utilized to market ourselves for new business development. Lisle is fortunate to be the home of the Morton Arboretum and to be strategically located with immediate access to I355 and I88. We need to elect leaders who envision a new future yet preserve our past. Few communities have the geography to grow a downtown within walking distance to both the Metra and the Ogden corridor. Addressing this development issue without careful consideration to the aging East Branch of the DuPage River levee would be unwise and irresponsible. Our community leaders need to be educated and vigilant in pursuit of a remedy to these dire situations. We can no longer kick the can down the road.

* What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I have established a platform via social media that encourages engaging dialogue with our tight knit community about the many common concerns we share. I am a frequent participant and in regular attendance of all Village of Lisle board meetings. I have been the only candidate to have been actively involved in these meetings; along with Planning and Zoning and Economic Development long before my deceleration for my candidacy. My attendance at School Board and Township meetings is not uncommon as well. A 5th generation resident of Lisle, I believe I best understand the concerns of Lisle's most established residents and how to juxtapose those concerns with the essential growth of the community to ensure our brightest future.

* 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 the courage necessary to stand tall in moments that will define our community. I have been leading the way in civic involvement already and I believe it is time to take the concerns of the community to the board of trustees. I have often been called on by the community to speak publicly on the issues facing Lisle at Village board and Planning and Zoning. I was an outspoken participant for the community members facing the hardships of the failing levee at the Army Corps of Engineers meetings at the County. The amount of divisiveness on all levels of government these days needs leadership that applies logic and reason over partisanship and division. I will bring this method of leadership to the Village of Lisle.

My true love for Lisle will be visible in my decisions on the board.

* 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 Village of Lisle boasts an Aa1 Bond rating with Moody's. While this is something to be proud of, we still have one of the higher property tax rates in comparison to other local communities. It is imperative that Lisle markets itself as "business friendly" in order to increase tax revenue from these entities and provide some relief to it's residents. One of the most popular services that the Village of Lisle provides is our leaf pick up program. In years past, it has proved difficult to improve the logistics involved with programs such as this in coordination with snow removal. A new stream of tax revenue that an improved downtown Lisle and other business districts would provide will assure popular programs such as these will not only be maintained but grow with no additional cost to the residents of Lisle.

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

I have been communicating many ideas to the community through my popular Facebook page for years. One of the most well received was Lisle, the Arboretum Village, has under utilized its relationship to the Morton Arboretum. In recent years Morton Arboretum has made itself a destination to many tourists. I believe the downtown Lisle business district should piggy back on the fantastic exhibits like "Trolls"and "Illuminations". These exhibits should be scaled down and displayed in downtown Lisle to attract the audience from the Arboretum to the incredible downtown restarunts and shops. It should not be the intent to make Lisle more like Naperville.