Herb Porter: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Herb Porter

City: Hanover Park

Office sought: Village Board of Trustees

Age: 65

Family: Married, Wife 41 years, Eva Porter, 3 children: Chantelle Porter Moss, Caryce Porter, Herbert Porter lll

Occupation:Retired Sales and Marketing Manager

Occupation: Retired Sales and Marketing Manager

Education: Shaw University, Business Administration

Civic involvement: Governing Board Alignment for Collaborative Education, Governing Board CEDA, Member of Dupage County NAACP

Previous elected offices held: None

Incumbent: If yes, when were first elected? 2015

Website:

Facebook: facebook.com/herb.porter

Twitter: @herb_porter

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 continued efforts to promote economic development and increase sales tax revenues to decrease the dependence on property taxes to fund the Villages expenditures. The Village has one of the highest overall property tax rates in the Chicago land area. This is due to a limited number of sales tax generating businesses and a low EAV of properties coupled with affordable/lower priced housing. My plan is to continue to support the development of our local economy with a mix of industrial and commercial businesses that will provide essential revenues as well as employment opportunities for the people of Hanover Park. Our Downtown Project will be a major accomplishment toward that end.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I am the best candidate because this is not a job. This is more of a cause and a labor of love. I have lived in Hanover Park for 37 years and feel my experience presents me with a prime opportunity to speak for every segment of our beloved village. I have a vast management background at upper and senior levels and a respect for all opinions even those I may not agree with.

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 get in front and advance ideas and then invite my colleagues to respond, reply, amend until we reach consensus. I value input and ideas that may be contrary to my own. I believe strongly in putting the benefit to the community above all personal agendas. I am an initiator of discussions that often lead to collaborative decisions.

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 good condition as evidenced by three consecutive years of zero tax increases. Budgets have been balanced for many years using a multitude of diverse revenue sources. The Village has received the Government Finance officers Association award of excellence in budget preparation. Current fund balances exceed 50% of budget and several future funding accounts have been established to plan for vehicle replacement, large capital needs and it services. Current pension funding is strong with all funds scheduled to be fully funded by 2033. We have managed to maintain a high level of service by being fiscally responsible. We staff at conservative levels that allow for the maintaining of critical public services while operating within our means and negating the need to dip into our reserves.

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

My one good idea is to build a vibrant and thriving bike trail system to further our path to becoming a green community. Currently our bike trail system consists of a disconnected network of trails lacking proper signage and safe well marked bike lanes. Connecting Hanover Park to surrounding communities will help Hanover Park to fully participate in 21st century transportation and energy solutions.

Additionally I would like to explore a public private partnership to bring an upscale dinning facility complete with Banquet hall capabilities to fill a void in our entertainment offerings.