Stephen Schmidt: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Stephen F. Schmidt

City: Elk Grove Village

Office sought: Elk Grove Village Trustee

Age (on Election Day): 66

Family: Married, daughter, son, stepson

Occupation: Retired Elk Grove Village Police Chief, part-time adjunct instructor at Harper College

Education: Master of Science from National Louis University

Civic involvement: Currently president of Elk Grove Village Italian Sister Cities, honorary member of Rotary Club of Elk Grove, former Scoutmaster for Troop 495, Elk Grove Village, former coach for both boys baseball and girls softball in Elk Grove Park District leagues.

Previous elected offices held: None

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

Website: www.TrusteeSchmidt.com

Facebook: facebook.com/TrusteeSchmidt

Issue questions

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

The leadership, both elected and appointed officials of Elk Grove Village does a very professional job. This has resulted in a very economically stable community with the lowest combined taxes as compared to surrounding communities. It is important to continue in this manner by investigating future technology for providing services to the community, ensuring that the Business Park continues with its high occupancy rate, looking at and planning for future infrastructure improvements with the goal of maintaining a low tax base. Also, it is important for the continued success of the Business Park to promote business to business relationships which would help maintain a strong local workforce along with a strong tax base.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I served on the Elk Grove Village Police Department for 41 1/2 years, 10 years as a deputy chief, and 17 years as chief. Approximately 2/3 of my law enforcement career was in a high level leadership role. This in addition to my civic involvement as described above, I believe, make me an ideal candidate for Elk Grove Village Trustee. I have lived in the village since 1986 and raised my family, and have contributed a lot to the community through my civic involvement. I would like to continue to serve the community in this new role because I feel I can still contribute to make this community the best it can be and be part of planning for its future.

Describe your leadership style and explain how you think that will be effective in producing actions and decisions with your village board.

My leadership style is definitely a participatory style and I strongly believe in team work. This worked well for me in my professional career and I will use this style of leadership to interact with the community, Village Staff, the Village Board, and the Mayor to make the best decisions for the community.

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 have had 27 years of government budget experience in Elk Grove Village and I know that the village is financially sound. This has been accomplished over the years with little or no tax increases. I prepared and maintained budgets in good and bad financial times without cutting services to the community. I am aware of the type of services the community wants and expects. I feel it is important for each village department to prepare 5 year plans so the Village Board can properly prioritize expenditures, programs, and technology advances to ensure the highest level of serviced possible to the community.

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

I have a concern for the lack of younger people volunteering for civic organizations and for showing interest in the political system. Many civic organizations are experiencing a decline in membership because younger people are not attracted to these organizations. Likewise, young people are not interested in the political scene. This may be due to the political issues at both the state and federal level. Because of this, local politics also suffer. I propose to start an initiative to reach out to the younger generation and educate them on the importance of becoming involved in civic organizations, and in local government so that good, honest people with the right reasons will become involved. They can start in local government by involvement with local commissions and boards and then hopefully participate in local elections. This idea equates to a succession plan for communities to ensure future elected officials fully understand and are prepared for these roles. In my current role as an adjunct instructor at a local community college I encourage my students to get involved in volunteerism and politics at the local level.