I am thrilled to be running for Village President. Two short months ago I did not think this would be possible. However, with the support of many residents I was placed on the April ballot. To these residents I owe my thanks. I now have the opportunity to offer the voters of Glen Ellyn my abilities to preserve our great town and to provide new, strong leadership to meet our community needs.

My vision is to restore our village government to an effective and efficient working body, to bring back our businesses, and to create new opportunities for future generations. I intend to provide the necessary leadership for our community; leadership familiar with all aspects of the community as a long term resident, homeowner, parent, and business executive as well as specific experience as a former Village Trustee, a member of District 41’s Technology Committee, a participant in District 87’s strategic planning process, and a Board Member of the Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce. This background provides me with an understanding of Glen Ellyn and knowledge to be the Village President.

Over the last several years our village has gone from fiscal solvency to a community running a budget deficit. In the years to come, these deficits are poised to threaten key services and reduce the opportunities the village provides its residents. We must, therefore, make it a priority to bring the village back to its financial stability of prior years. My goal is to balance our current deficit while not raising taxes and not eliminating any village staff. This is a tall task but I believe it can be accomplished by cutting non-essential programs in the short term and temporarily lowering the reserve policy limits below the 25% policy if necessary. We must also look to utilize private sector concepts within our village to eliminate costs in our transportation, energy, and physical operations. Finally, we must look to the 2010 census as a way to close our budget deficit. An accurate census will ensure that we receive the funding we deserve for infrastructure and education.

Currently, the village is investigating long term efforts to revitalize the downtown through the Downtown Study. I support these efforts and will work to implement those ideas we are fiscally able to do and which provide benefit to multiple organizations in our community. However, our initial priority is to focus on the more immediate needs of the businesses in Glen Ellyn. We must bring different village organizations together to promote a cohesive front for sustaining and growing Glen Ellyn businesses in the future. I will lead such efforts.

As president, I will draw on skills learned in over 25 years of domestic and international sales, consultation, and business development. I will make it a priority that the village becomes a partner to local business by providing business owners what they need to succeed. Under my leadership the village will take a proactive approach in economic development. My experience at the International Trade Representatives Office in Washington DC showed me the positive results that a coordinated government and business effort can bring. I believe all the elements exist right here in Glen Ellyn to reap the gains of this type of alliance. To help accomplish this, I will create a Business Development position, at zero budget impact, within the village government.

But we can’t stop there. We must also seek creative ways to provide Glen Ellyn businesses the short term stimuli they need. This could come in the form of website development assistance and training, or a Glen Ellyn rewards card program. The village must also welcome and carefully examine proposals for granting businesses incentives to help offset lost sales in the months to come.

As a life-long resident of Glen Ellyn who met his wife in kindergarten at Ben Franklin Elementary, I understand the need to maintain the traditions of the past while embracing the opportunities of the future. We have key historic elements within our community which we must preserve for future generations. It is our role during the limited time we have on Earth to be their caretakers. Therefore, we must continue to support the Historical Society’s efforts to make Stacey’s Tavern a gateway to our great village. We must wisely designate other key landmarks as Glen Ellyn treasures and preserve them accordingly.

To maintain the safety of our residents I will also make sure that we provide them with world class police, fire, and emergency care services. Glen Ellyn is not immune to the rapid spread of urbanization we see around us. We must provide our police force with the latest technology and equipment to fight urbanization’s risks, and to make sure they are fully staffed at all times. Similarly, our volunteer fire department and emergency medical services must be given sufficient resources to meet the needs of our growing community. Despite the projected budget deficit, we must make sure that these key services are never compromised.

In my view, it is vital that every resident feels he or she is part of the process of village government. Our residents are well-informed on local issues and, while they may disagree on any particular issue, it is important that they have the opportunity to participate in the decision making process. This can be done by improving information flow to our residents. The village board must strive to make sure that all residents’ opinions, negative or positive, are considered.

I feel it is the duty of everyone to serve his or her community, a philosophy instilled in me while growing up in Glen Ellyn. Our volunteerism is what makes Glen Ellyn unique. I was fortunate enough to be raised in Glen Ellyn, where I received a quality education in a safe and prosperous environment. Today my desire is to see better opportunities, and a safer more prosperous Glen Ellyn exists for future generations. This is why I want to be your next president. And, this is why I am extremely grateful for the honor to run for the Presidency of the Village of Glen Ellyn.

Finally, if anyone wishes to contact me, I can be reached at GaryFasules@gmail.com, by calling me at 630-251-2329, or in the future through my blog at GaryforGlenEllyn.com.

Thank you, Gary. Best of luck. I look forward to hearing your views at the upcoming debate(s) with Mr. Pfefferman.

Is it safe to assume that you will answer questions posed to you on this BB?

Gary, Thank you for taking the time to prepare a statement for the BB. As a lifelong resident of Glen Ellyn, what is your opinion on the Civic Betterment Party? Can you shed some light on why you did not participate in the Town Hall Meeting and the traditional process? Will you be participating in the LWVGE candidate's forum? Sorry for so many questions. As someone who grew up in a town with a Mayor and a traditional election, I am curious about the future of the CBB. Thank you.

In interest of full disclosure, and I am certain Gary would point this out, he would have a very difficult time avoiding any LWVGE functions...as his spouse is on of its presidents.

Welcome Gary!
Please accept my virtual handshake over the pages of the Glen Ellyn Bulleting Board. It is interesting that both Village President campaigns incorporate the words "For Glen Ellyn." Our focus is in the right place.

How dare you, sirs!

How can any pro-business fiscal conservative argue that rent is too high anywhere, let alone that a governmental entity should invest ... ah, SPEND ... even one taxpayer dollar in an attempt to control it?

Is not the owning and leasing of property a business in and of itself? And, that like all other businesses, it is best left unregulated?

Are not rents subject to the laws of supply and demand like all other buyer-seller transactions? When Horselys and the toy store left because the rents were supposedly too high, did not new tenants fill the void?

And mustn't landlords maximum profits so they can afford to pay for government services such as two fire inspections in the same year, and salt and sidewalk snow removal in the winter?

Oops. Never mind. But that explains why it's cheaper in Carmel.

Hi,
Have to agree with Gabriel on this one. If we fiscal conservatives really want less government involvement, how can we justify regulating how much rent a property owner chooses to charge his tenants? Let the open market determine how much the space is worth.

There are a few things we can do to regulate how the property is maintained, as this affects the CBD overall. We could consider imposing some sort of a fee for storefronts that remain empty for a certain period of time, as this also affects the CBD as a whole.

As for the proposed 1% tax..can't imagine a worse idea. While it's true that many customers might not notice the additional few pennies on their bill, it is the message that we are sending that concerns me. Instead of taxing to support the spending, why not cut the spending instead? Example: Did we just wake up this morning and figure out that we have a budget deficit? If so, why in the hell did we spend dime one on a stupid fountain? I know it's not a lot of money. But expenditures like that reveal a glimpse into the mindset of some of our leaders.

I'm done. Thanks for listening.

quote:

Did we just wake up this morning and figure out that we have a budget deficit? If so, why in the hell did we spend dime one on a stupid fountain? I know it's not a lot of money. But expenditures like that reveal a glimpse into the mindset of some of our leaders.

It would appear that yes "we" did just wake up this morning; despite having at least 12 months to prepare. What's more I am gravely concerned my the immaturity of Village government when it comes to fundamental operating principles and efficiencies.

For example - please correct me if I'm wrong - the village has no centralized procurement policy (that I can see.) From office supplies, to services how much leverage could we gain from that - like the fountain, it may be "small money" gains, but likely enough to cover the cost of one existing FTE.

Separately and relative to fiscal conservatism - it's all well and good to proselytize on the power of the open market, but when both governmental & quasi governmental & political forces encumber trade to the degree that it affects competitiveness at the micro level (both Village and individual business)then a vicious circle ensues...the government & political forces that encumber must then be held accountable (at some point) for balancing that encumbrance.

You want to stimulate business in GE - consider relaxing code requirements; historical preservation standards and fees; consider abating taxes and permit fees.

If one must (read: must) tax, then tax for growth not emergency expense coverage. If the village told me 99% of tax increase would be used to stimulate new business growth; or as an incentive for people to move to GE I would listen. I.e. $500k in new taxes to provide a local credit to homebuyers. Goal: 100 in the 12 months...well maybe that's worthwhile - or - take the sales tax proceeds and use it to fund projects and stimulus-related lobyying....again go for it...

Hi,
Agree with most of what you said Forsale. Jombl, Forsale, just curious. What do you think it is that seems to happen to many of our elected officials who start out supposedly with an agenda of fiscal conservativism, and then do an about face once they are in office? No I am not speaking of anyone in particular. I have yet to see someone leave office as fiscally conservative as they were when they came in.

quote:

What do you think it is that seems to happen to many of our elected officials

I think it's much easier to be an ideologue when you have no accountability than when you do - and - there's the matter of institutional & social inertia. Just as our population growth has remained stagnant for the past 7yrs+, so too has our appetite for innovation and institutional change; and, I'm not talking about heady notions of change, but simple and fundamental types of change in village operations along with a capacity to focus on both tactical and strategic village initiatives.

I think our elected officials - when faced with an in situ institution - cherry pick their strategic initiatives to satisfy the community issue du jour and focus their tactical efforts only on maintaining the status quo...as much as possible.

Case in point - strategy vs tactical: The downtown plan. How long has the community been talking about this vision for the downtown? How many stores have shuttered and/or remained vacant during that same period?

Case in point - tactical vs. strategy: how long has the village remained static population-wise and how hard would it have been for village planners circa 2007/08 to say: "..hey...errr...we're seeing some disturbing data emerge on the state of the economy/real-estate/employment et al...let's take a moment to do same modeling on potential impacts to revenue?" Instead, what sort of blurbs do we get from village hall - token suspension of horse trough renovations; distractions related to BS personnel matters.

To get back to your question: the ideologues get caught up in the politics of politics and forget that they are supposed to not just run this business known as GE, but protect it and Grow it.

quote:

The problem with rent is the pass-through of the real estate tax burden.

Don't be silly. Everyone knows that only the rich pay taxes. What is it... something like 2% of the taxpayers pay 98% of the taxes? Whatever.

It is therefore clear that those who can not afford to meet their business expenses are not among the uber-rich, therefore they obviously pay no taxes.

By the same reasoning an increase in local sales taxes will not affect the vast majority of Glen Ellyn shoppers, because everyone knows that only really, really rich people pay taxes.

Gasoline is practically free for lower-income people, because, since they do not pay taxes, they must, by definition, not pay gas taxes. What does the average non-tax-paying citizen save? A buck a gallon or so? And when they drive on the interstates they save even more, because only the rich pay tolls.

But don't be fooled. The real reason the rich pay all the taxes and lower-income slackers pay none is because the lower-income slackers hide their wealth in numbered Swiss bank accounts.

Always remember: unless you are in the top 2%, you pay no taxes.