Tom Simonian: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Tom Simonian

City: Geneva

Office sought: Geneva 5th Ward alderman

Age: 59

Family: Brother, sister, mom and five nieces and one nephew, all in the area.

Occupation: Founder and CEO of Ultimate Choice, Inc.; Founder and CEO of Array Enterprises, Inc.; Owner of CD One Price Franchise Darien, IL; Owner of CD One Price Franchise St. Charles, IL; Certified Financial Planner

Education: Graduated Saint Louis University with a BS in Finance

Civic involvement: Former board member Geneva Community Chest; Volunteers at many organizations and charities; Volunteers at many civic functions

Previous elected offices held: 5th Ward Alderman

Incumbent: If yes, when were first elected? No

Website: None

Facebook: simonianforgeneva

Twitter:

Issue questions

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

There are a number of issues that are coming to the City Council that have to be addressed including our new budget, rezoning and historic preservation, but the single most important issue we face is how as a City Council we properly represent the residents that elected us. I believe sometimes the residents' concerns are lost in the process. As alderman we must keep that from happening. The aldermanic system is the purest form of representative government. Simply put, neighbors ask a fellow neighbor to represent them. You're chosen not because you're a Democrat, Republican or Independent, not because you are on a "side", but instead because you are willing to speak for not only the residents in your Ward but for ALL residents. Too often decisions have been made not in the best interest of Geneva residents, tax payers and businesses.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

This is exactly what I'm telling the voters to ask themselves! Why Tom? The answer I will tell them is that I'm willing to speak out on behalf of fairness and common sense. I am willing to ask "Does this benefit Geneva residents, taxpayers and businesses?" If not I'll speak out. If a decision is being pushed that doesn't seem to make sense, STOP THE PROCESS, and have someone explain how it benefits the citizens, taxpayers and businesses of Geneva. If a decision is being pushed that doesn't seem fair, STOP THE PROCESS, and have someone explain why some should benefit while others take on a burden. We need people on the council willing to fight the status quo. I was a vocal opponent of imposing new taxes and fees on the residents when I was on the council and I will continue to be. Raising taxes alone is not always the "go to" solution. Managing expenses need to part of the equation.

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 opponent will love this question. He thinks this election is all about style. But it's not. It is about substance. It's about never forgetting the reason you're an alderman in the first place and that's to represent all Geneva residents. There was a quote in the paper when I was alderman that said " ... cost-cutting has dominated the budget discussion the past several meetings, with 5th Ward Alderman Tom Simonian taking a lead role in challenging rising costs." My "style" is to not accept the status quo and challenge our processes, positions and decisions. My "style" is to insist that we are accountable to the residents, taxpayers and businesses and are willing to explain our actions. My "style" is to not always stand with the majority if I believe it's not in the best interest of Geneva. Also never confuse my passion for anger. This has been my home for almost 21 years and I plan on it being my home till the end of my journey.

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 city keeps telling the residents that they should feel proud because once again we have a balance budget. But to have that balanced budget the City had to increase income from $63 million in 2010 to almost $103 Million for 2019. Asking for more and more money each year is only one way of balancing the budget. That defies common sense. A sensible compromise of both increasing revenues and managing/decreasing expenses is what is in the best interested of Geneva citizens, taxpayers and businesses. Bringing in new business and new tax dollars is the right way to increase revenues. Cutting waste is the correct way to reduce costs. We need to explore potential economic development opportunities, we need to utilize our existing resources like the train and the Fox River, we need to focus more on East side revitalization and development and we need to expand the city's commercial and industrial tax base and we need to look at consolidation both within Geneva as well as the Fox Valley. To do this we need to change the way we do business in Geneva. We have lost too many opportunities because of our burdensome and unfriendly attitude. Many of these businesses that failed to get the cooperation of the City moved on to other towns where they've been good business neighbors and tax producing partners. Geneva is a popular destination that sells itself if we let it.

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

Consolidation of equipment and services with other cities. This has been successfully done in many cities, counties and townships, but Geneva has been reluctant to investigate these savings. Matter of fact one of the most successful consolidations in the US is right here with Tri-City Ambulance that saves the Tri-City over $1.3 million a year because of consolidation. This example not only saves the Tri-City a tremendous amount of money but it also provides a better and safer service to the residents of Geneva, Batavia and Saint Charles. We need to initiate discussions with Batavia and St. Charles to see where consolidation, purchasing, out sourcing, etc. of city services, like we did with Tri-City Ambulance, will work. Building inspections, plumbing inspections, river rescue, fire department equipment, police equipment, the use of other city's employees on a part-time basis, these are all areas of cost savings that should be looked into. We also need to welcome discussions with our partners at the School District, Park District & Library District to collaborate as "One Geneva" constantly working for a common good.