Mario VanDerHeyden

On the Record

What experiences do you have that make you a good candidate for office?

My lifelong service to the community through working for my father’s business, Tony’s Heating and Cooling is my longest line of experience that has prepared me to become an alderman. My post graduate work for Chevron Chemical, Schnadig Furniture, and currently Medline Industries, Inc. has placed me in situations to mitigate business disagreements, create mutually beneficial business solutions, lead million dollar projects, and annually procure in excess of 100 million dollars in transportation services.

What are your top three priorities if elected?

I promise to provide a stronger voice for the 3rd ward community through active civic participation in our neighborhood. I also promise more economic transparency when confronted with challenges from the city and community via active civic participation. My strongest objective is to retain and grow the ideal to live, work, and play in our community. This will be achieved by repairing the fractured relationship between the community and the city council, balancing measured residential growth with sustainable business opportunities.

Would you support freezing your taxing district’s levy until housing prices rebound? Why or why not?

The decision to freeze a tax levy until housing prices rebound would be made by a collective answer from the residents of the 3rd ward. I personally believe in living beneath household needs. The reduced housing values present an opportunity for a deeper evaluation of all costs, and incoming revenue. The result will be a reduction in non- essential costs and creative revenue ideas for our community.

What one decision by the city council do you most disagree with and why?

The consensus of the 3rd ward is disappointed with the Lexington Housing Development decision reversal. I live one block from the site. I feel the actions by the city, and the council regarding this project provided the extra incentive to run for alderman. The collective voice of our neighborhood was ignored. Contempt from the city was felt, and residents will see future suggestions for a strong ethics policy. Traffic studies performed in summer months had flawed results. The complexion of the impacted neighborhood will be changed forever. Residents do not feel there is a shortage of townhomes and single family homes in our community. Light manufacturing, warehouse, and small business spaces offer jobs in this section of downtown. The project should have been an opportunity to improve St. Charles with cooperation of the community, and it has only created a deeper divide.

What was the biggest accomplishment of the city council in the past year?

The best city council accomplishment last year was the reconstruction approval of North 15th street via the support of a successful Kane County Government Grant. St. Charles did not have to bear the entire cost burden, and it was nice a shot in the arm for the neighborhood.

Why should voters elect you to office?

I should be elected as the new 3rd ward alderman, because I will be a stronger mouthpiece for our ward in the city council. I am committed to sharing city agenda items directly with 3rd ward residents as much as possible. I am a pragmatic decision maker at my occupation, and home. I am a direct product of previous St. Charles city council decisions dating back over 100 years, and I want to give back as much to St. Charles as the VanDerHeyden family has received.