Larry Rybicki: 2023 candidate for Streamwood Village Board
Bio
Town: Streamwood
Age on Election Day: 70
Occupation: Retired and Part Time Docent Morton Arboretum
Employer: Morton Arboretum
Previous offices held: Streamwood Village Trustee
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: The most serious issue facing our community is the Loss of Commercial Retail Establishments. Village Board needs to direct the establishment of a full-time dedicated village staff to actively engage with various corporate developments to market the potential of our available retail and commercial areas and to assist in retaining and growing existing businesses.
Q: How would you describe the state of your community's finances?
A: Village finances are good and are well managed.
Q: What should be the three top priorities for spending in your community during the next four years?
A: a) Continued investment in the village infrastructure, ie. Water, Sewer, Roads, b) investment in village services, ie. Police, Fire, Public Works, c) Keeping current with financial obligations, ie. Pension funding, debt obligations, etc.
Q: Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed? If so, what are they?
A: None, The Village maintains a balanced budget.
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: Continued upkeep of Roadways and water/sewer works. These are currently funded through yearly budgets and planning cycles. Excellent planning has enabled the Village to remain on good financial terms with balanced budgets and avoiding the need for drastic actions.
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: Throughout my corporate and business career I've had to focus on what the issue being faced is and how to best address it. I have strived to consider the 'larger good' and not to be focused solely on what my desires and wants or how it will personally affect me. This is essential to reaching agreement in any diverse setting such as government. The needs of effective government require one to look beyond oneself.
Q: What makes you the best candidate for the job?
A: I'm an experienced individual with excellent people skills and an avid listener.
Q: What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?
A: Joint Village/Town projects to develop/use surrounding Forest Preserves for residents beyond the existing picnic type uses.