Stefanie Boucher: 2023 candidate for Rolling Meadows City Council, Ward 5
Bio
Town: Rolling Meadows
Age on Election Day: 39
Occupation: Project manager
Employer: Motorola Solutions
Previous offices held: Past positions: President of Willow Bend PTA, president of Carl Sandburg PTSA, president of the Northwest Suburban Council PTA. executive board for Northwest Cook Region PTA, executive board for Rolling Meadows High School Music Boosters
Q&A
Q: What is the most serious issue your community will face in the coming years and how should the city council or village board respond to it?
A: In the next few years there are going to be major changes coming within our surrounding communities and we need to be in front of it. We have shortcomings in our lack of a diversified business portfolio and variety of businesses in the downtown area and we risk being left behind. It is important that Rolling Meadows has a solid plan to bring in a varied mix of businesses that will attract visitors to our community. Our competitors are preparing, so should we.
Q: How would you describe the state of your community's finances?
A: From what I have researched of the city's finances I don't see priorities or a plan to sustain future and diversified growth.
Q: What should be the three top priorities for spending in your community during the next four years?
A: I believe that over the next four years the top three priorities should be to increase the budget for business development to help bring new businesses into our community. We also need to spend more money on promoting Rolling Meadows as a destination for young families. In addition, it is important to modernize our park district infrastructure and programs.
Q: Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed? If so, what are they?
A: I cannot accurately comment on this question. I don't observe a strategic plan for the city and thus I don't
know if our spending is appropriate or not.
Q: What do you see as the most important infrastructure project the community must address? Why and how should it be paid for? Conversely, during these uncertain economic times, what project(s) can be put on the back burner?
A: This is a great time for our community to invest in infrastructure projects using federal funding from the recently passed bipartisan Build Back Better Bill. As we prepare for the potential move of the Chicago Bears to a neighboring community we have to be ready for thousands of people to be using our roads. Using Federal money rather then our taxpayers is ideal.
Q: Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach agreement and manage local government? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board or city council.
A: Over the past 15 years I have worked in a group setting for a Fortune 500 technology company and the past decade as a parent volunteer at the elementary, middle and high school levels. When I am working on a project I make sure to listen to the all group members to insure everyone's ideas are heard and discussed. While we are talking. I am looking to see if is a consensus solution for the problem is emerging. I am more concerned about solving the problem then who gets credit for the solution. I have found that building consensus leads to better solutions for complex problems.
Q: What makes you the best candidate for the job?
A: I have lived in Rolling Meadows a majority of my life and have been involved in multiple components of the community from the park district, as a patron and employee, to the library, to the school systems. I have a passion to see this community blossom and meet it's true potential. As the first elected female alderman in close to 20 years, I will bring a unique and different voice to Ward 5.
Q: What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?
A: As a long time resident of a neighborhood walking distance from two schools in two different school districts, I have found that the community and those school districts do not have an open line of communication. We all need to work more closely together to provide our children both an exceptional education and a safe community. The upcoming District 15 boundary changes combined with the new high school schedules require better cooperation. No surprises.