Brian Bieschke: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Brian Bieschke

City: Schaumburg

Office sought: Village Trustee

Age (on Election Day): 58

Family: Married (Lynda) and celebrating our 35th anniversary this year, we have three children including daughter Jessica (30) and twin sons Thomas and Kendall (28).

Occupation: Director of Sales Engineering, UbiStor Inc., Schaumburg IL (www.ubistor.com)

Education: High school graduate, Thornton Fractional Township South High School, Lansing, IL 1978

Civic involvement: Current village and community service includes: member of the Schaumburg Zoning Board of Appeals, member of the Schaumburg Traffic Impact Fee Committee, Chairman of the Schaumburg Park Foundation, member of the Spring Valley Master Plan Committee, VP of the board of directors and Treasurer of the Children's Advocacy Center of North and Northwest Cook County and member of the Rotary Club of Schaumburg AM and Past President. Former Village of Schaumburg positions held include member and Chairman of the Schaumburg Environmental Committee (8/2005 - 6/2009), member of the Plan Commission (6/2009 - 1/2015) and Schaumburg Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee (2016-2018).

Previous elected offices held: None

Incumbent? If yes, when were you first elected? N/A

Website: www.friendsofschaumburg.com

Facebook: Brian Bieschke for Schaumburg Village Trustee

Issue questions

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

The number one issue I hear from residents and business owners is property taxes. As Village Trustee I will work with the Village Board to explore alternate funding sources, manage budget growth and continue to reduce the village's property tax levy. In addition to this, I will work with the board and village staff to maintain and restore the village roadways and other infrastructure and explore new ideas to improve and expand public transportation.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

The experience I have gained in the past 13 years of service to Schaumburg make me the best candidate for this position and quite frankly, gives me the right to ask the village residents for their support. I have invested a great deal of my personal time to prepare myself to serve at the Village Board level. Over this 13 years, I have attended numerous Village Board and committee meetings, annual budget presentation meetings, served the village on multiple committees and advisory panels. Additionally, I have held leadership positions over the last 25 years in multiple community service and charitable and religious organizations. Experience matters and I believe I have the knowledge and experience to 'hit the ground running' and be effective and relevant day one for the people of Schaumburg.

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 a collaborative leadership style. I prefer to review and discuss issues and wait to formulate a decision until all concerned individuals are heard. I feel this is the best way to make sure all options and ideas are considered before making a decision or setting direction. I also believe this is the best approach to effective village board decisions, while including an option for residents or business owners to voice their opinions as appropriate at public meetings.

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?

I believe Schaumburg's budget is in excellent shape. The village has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association the past five years. Property taxes continue to be a concern of residents and the business community, specifically the village levy which represents approximately $20M in annual revenue. The bulk of this revenue is used to pay for public safety and police and fire pensions. As it is a Village Board priority to reduce the property tax levy and with increasing obligations for police and fire pensions, we need to review or reallocate our current spending to pay these expenses or find new funding sources.

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

Public Transit Improvements. In 2018, the Village approved an updated Comprehensive Plan which includes several areas of focus and suggestions regarding public transportation. Now that progress has begun in the Veridian development (former Motorola property), I believe it's also time to begin discussions to add new public transportation services to and from local and regional destinations such as the Schaumburg Metra Station, O'Hare and Midway Airports, Chicago Downtown area and other Chicago entertainment locations. Additionally the Comprehensive Plan includes a suggestion to work with local employers and to consider additional transportation services to assist employees in their daily commute.