A. Suresh Reddy: 2021 candidate for trustee in Oak Brook
Six candidates are running for three, 4-year seats on the Oak Brook Village Board.
Bio
City: Oak Brook
Age: 55
Occupation: Physician
Employer: Self-employed, Loyola University Medical Center
Civic involvement: Organized health camps for basic health screenings; organized health awareness walks, veteran obesity prevention walks, childhood obesity prevention walks; organized several webinars to educate public on COVID prevention; organized "Share a Blanket" program, donating blankets to the needy.
Q&A
Q. How do you view your role in confronting the pandemic: provide leadership even if unpopular, give a voice to constituents - even ones with whom you disagree, or defer to state and federal authorities?
A. I was the president of a 12,000 large ethnic physician organization last year. I organized more than 250 online webinars to educate physicians and lay public. As a physician, the three key elements to counter this pandemic is wearing a mask, 6 feet social distancing and constant hand sanitization.
If we follow three basic rules, we should be able to beat this virus.
Coming to the fiscal responsibility, I would do it exactly as I am doing in my house. Fiscal conservatism and cutting unnecessary expenditure.
Q. Did your town continue to adequately serve its constituents during the disruptions caused by the pandemic? If so, please cite an example of how it successfully adjusted to providing services. If not, please cite a specific example of what could have been done better.
A. The Village overall fared very well under the leadership of Dr. Lalmalani. There were no staff cuts among the full-time employees.
However, some members proposed an outrageous budget with a $4 million deficit. That's irresponsible and fiscally reckless. If elected, my focus would be seriously cutting down unnecessary expenses.
Q. In light of our experiences with COVID-19, what safeguards/guidelines should you put in place to address any future public health crises?
A. Coming back to the basics, wearing a mask, strict social distancing and hand sanitization. If we follow these three golden rules, we can go on with our 'near' normal lives.
Also I will propose to continue to maintain excellent Village Services and responsiveness to taxpayers.
Q. What cuts can local government make to reduce the burden of the pandemic on taxpayers?
A. We cannot increase taxes. We must cut down unnecessary expenditure. We must be smart and wise about our expenditure, just like we do at our home.
Q. What do you see as the most important infrastructure project you must address? Why and how should it be paid for? Conversely, during these uncertain economic times, what infrastructure project can be put on the back burner?
Q. Do you plan to address businesses that don't adhere to the governor's order to close or restrict business?
A. In addition to being a physician, I am also a small-business owner. I take reasonable steps to protect my employees and my customers. My philosophy is we must start living our life but still following the three golden rules of how to avoid COVID as I mentioned before. As a Harvard trained Physician public health and safety is the top most priority for me.
Q. Do you agree or disagree with the stance your board/council has taken on permitting recreational marijuana sales in the community? What would you change about that stance, if you could?
A. As a medical professional, I can tell you that legalizing narcotics and other drugs is bad public policy. There has not been enough research on the ill effects of pot, and when that does come out, more and more communities will refuse to allow it to poison their towns. Will you allow a cardiac surgeon on marijuana operate on you? Will you sit in the plane whose pilot is on marijuana?
If we have so strict rules on drunken driving and alcohol consumption, why not on marijuana.
Q. What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?
A. Organize public health programs; organize charitable events.