Rich Janor: 2023 candidate for Naperville park board

Bio

Town: Naperville

Age on Election Day: 45

Occupation: Business owner/executive

Employer: Game Day USA

Previous offices held: Naperville Park Commissioner, 2011-present

Q&A

Q: Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you, and if so, what is it?

A: I am the only incumbent seeking re-election to the Naperville Park District board, and experience is important on local boards.

This past year, the park district conducted a community survey, and we received comprehensive feedback from our residents on needs, wants, interests, etc. Over the next four years, the park district will take action on these survey results, and I hope to remain a part of the process to drive some of these ideas from inception to implementation.

I have thoroughly enjoyed working with our talented and dedicated park district leadership team, and am proud of our accomplishments together, including exceptionally high resident satisfaction ratings, a Aaa bond rating, and a reputation for completing projects on time and under budget. My children are 3, 6 and 12 years old, and are right in the wheelhouse of park district programming. I would like to ensure that our park district remains strong and vibrant for years to come.

Q: How well is your district rebounding from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic? What new measures should be taken to strengthen programming or better meet the needs of the community?

A: The Naperville Park District has not only rebounded, but has actually experienced a participation surge in many of its programs and events that continues into 2023. In fact, one of our greatest challenges today is meeting resident demand for certain programs (basketball, gymnastics, etc.) and knocking down program waitlists.

Our Naperville Park District board and staff must continue to look for creative and innovative ways to increase capacity for certain programs to better meet resident demand, including demand from seniors and our special needs community. Recruiting new personnel is also an ongoing challenge for the park district, especially entry level staff and volunteers.

We must also be creative and innovative in this area, especially as it applies to recruiting and retaining top talent, because the greatest asset to any park district is its people.

Q: How would you describe the state of the district's finances? What challenges do you see on the horizon, and how do you propose to meet them?

A: The Naperville Park District maintains a strong financial position and reputation. This is not just an internal opinion, but is supported by numerous external organizations. We have a Aaa bond rating, have consistently received the GFOA Certificate for Excellence in Financial Reporting, and recently renewed our CAPRA accreditation, meeting all 154 standards of excellence with a perfect score.

Our two main revenue sources are property taxes and program fees (memberships, participation fees, green fees, etc.).

Given rampant inflation and family budgets being squeezed, along with drastic increases in many park district expense categories, a key challenge will be continuing to provide great programs, services and events without significant increases to taxes and/or fees. There is no simple solution; we'll need to wrestle with the options and find the right balance.

With nearly 12 years of park district experience, I stand ready to make these tough decisions.

Q: Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach agreement? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions of your park board.

A: As a high school varsity baseball coach and Naperville business owner for nearly 20 years, I think about teamwork and camaraderie on a daily basis.

During this time frame, I have learned to separate issues from personalities during challenging policy discussions, always attacking the issues and never attacking someone personally. In today's political climate, with the rise of cancel culture and inflammatory political rhetoric, separating issues from personalities is incredibly important.

Additionally, if difficult conversations need to be had, I prefer to have them face to face, as opposed to hiding behind a social media platform or email account, which we see too often in government at all levels. This approach has been key to my formula for success in local politics, high school athletics and business. We may not always agree with one another, but listening, common courtesy and mutual respect should be non-negotiable.

Q: What makes you the best candidate for the job?

A: During my time on the Naperville Park District Board of Commissioners, I was elected board president three times by a unanimous, bipartisan vote of the other commissions. I have demonstrated time and time again that I am willing and able to put partisanship aside, and work well with others.

Of all the candidates seeking election to the Naperville Park District Board of Commissioners, I have the most experience by far, and this fact should be undisputed. I am the one and only incumbent seeking re-election. In addition to park district experience, I am a business owner, employer, coach, parent, active volunteer, and author. All of these roles have made me uniquely qualified to oversee our park district budget and set strategy and plans for the Naperville Park District for years to come.