John Strauss

On the Record

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

I have already been a trustee for 5 years and was part of the pre-incorporation effort. This experience provided an education about village finances as well as the important roles that police protection, well-maintained roads and zoning play in the execution of the village’s responsibility to serve its citizens.

What are your top three priorities if elected?

1.) Hire a professional administrator: Recently the village board voted to create the position of village administrator. This position will allow the village to operate professionally regardless of who is elected president. The current president has graciously volunteered her time to perform this duty, without pay, for many years and it is now time to make this transition. 2.) Village Finances: The recent negative vote regarding “Kiva Recovery” has created a problem for the village. Kiva had agreed to provide over $7.5 million to the village. This money would have easily paid for the administrator position and helped mitigate the possibility of finding additional revenue streams – if the state of Illinois changes its revenue sharing equation. 3.) Hearings: Some damage was done to the reputation of the village board during the Kiva hearings. For example, many, at these hearings, didn’t understand that the board had a legal obligation to hold these hearings and to eventually vote. I think a more interactive process during which the trustees could engage citizens would have mitigated much of this misunderstanding.

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

The Village of Campton Hills has no tax levy. So, fortunately, this is not something that concerns the board of trustees.

What one decision by the village board do you most disagree with and why?

One Decision which I disagreed on: I was disappointed that the annexation of KIVA Recovery was voted down by the board. Clearly, the opposition won the political battle and, in this respect, the democratic process worked. However, I think many became so focused on getting rid of Kiva that they lost sight of the consequences, some of which were more eminent than others. Surely, residents lost the opportunity to negotiate the many conditions placed on the operation. Residents lost control of what happens as this decision is now in the hands of Kiva and/or the county. Residents lost a revenue source, which would have funded the administrator position as well as act as a guard against changes to state funding. Residents lost the opportunity to build a business-friendly relationship, which could have provided social and financial benefits to the community. I am still hopeful that this facility might be occupied by an enterprise (NOT KIVA), which would want to become part of the village and share part of its financial rewards with village residents.

What was the biggest accomplishment of the board in the past year?

The much needed purchase of a village hall. This was really a tribute to the financial integrity of the board of trustees, led by the president over all the years leading up to the purchase.

Why should voters elect you to office?

If re-elected, voters expect me to be honest and to carry out my duties, “ to the best of my abilities, so help me God.” I have done so for 5 years and will continue to do so. I understand the importance that board decisions can have on people’s lives, as well as their pocket books. Leadership requires the courage to diligently evaluate one’s own decision making process and then to vote according to one’s conscience, regardless of popularity. After all, leadership isn’t always a popularity contest.