Age: 38.
Residence: Aurora.
Party: Democrat.
Family: Parents and siblings in Iowa.
Education: Central Community High School, DeWitt, Iowa; Cornell College, politics and psychology.
Employer: Project manager, National Marine Manufacturers Association, Chicago.
Political experience: Have worked on several presidential campaigns.
Community involvement: Naperville Exchange Club; ADOPT.
Q: What challenges are facing the township as the surrounding cities continue to annex property and increase in population?
A: I believe that the population explosion in the surrounding areas is both a benefit and a challenge to Naperville Township. With the increase in population it allows our investment in this community to increase in value. However, some individuals who have lived here for years and are on fixed incomes may now face the challenges of higher tax valuations based on the increase in real estate value. In addition, as communities grow, the growth of infrastructure needs to keep pace with the population growth in order to best serve the entire population smoothly and effectively.
Q: Naperville has a reputation of being one of the best places to raise a family. In what ways can the township help the city become more senior- and singles-friendly?
A: As a single person living in Naperville I found it extremely beneficial to become involved within the community. Many singles are relocating to the suburbs from downtown Chicago since it is more economical to purchase real estate in the suburbs versus downtown. This move in location makes it necessary to re-create a feeling of home and community so networking and building new relationships with others within Naperville Township is extremely important. I think that promoting all the great civic organizations within Naperville Township, such as the Exchange Club, Jaycees as well as all the great local events, is a great way to promote the inclusiveness of the community.
Q: How would you describe your township to a visitor from outside the area?
A: I would describe Naperville Township as a great place to live, work and visit. Our community has great shopping, restaurants and a vibrant economy. It has a real close-knit feel and a willingness to help others.
03/23/05 From: http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/sunpub/naper/election/ilg.htm
Response to Chamber of Commerce Questionnaire: http://www.naperville.net/government/Candidate%20Response%202005/candidates_naperville_township_janice_ilg.pdf
Candidates tackle growth issue in township
04/01/05
By Kathy Cichon
FYI
In Tuesday's election, six candidates are running for four seats on the Naperville Township Board of Trustees. Republican candidates are Esin Gina Busche, Fred A. Spitzzeri, Gary J. Vician and May Yurgaitis. Democratic candidates are Rick Klau and Janice L. Ilg. For candidate profiles, visit www.napersun.com and click on Election 2005.
Lisle, Wheatland Township elections uncontested
Lisle and Wheatland townships have no contested races for Tuesday's election.
The following are the candidates in offices up for re-election in Lisle Township:
Township supervisor: Charles B. Clarke, Republican.
Township clerk: Richard J. Tarulis, Republican.
Township assessor: John D. Trowbridge II, Republican.
Highway commissioner: Michael J. Dow, Republican.
Township trustee (four seats): Patricia G. Voras, Robert J. Klaeren II, Vito J. Modica and Samuel A. Smith, all Republicans.
The following are the candidates in offices up for re-election in Wheatland Township:
Township supervisor: Shirley A. Armstrong, Republican.
Township clerk: Georgeann Cole Karantonis, Republican.
Township assessor: Kelli Lord, Republican.
Highway commissioner: Dayton E. Jamagin, Republican.
Township collector: Donald Raue, Republican.
Township trustee (four seats): Robert Biedron, Barry P. Bonazzi, Diane M. Para and Jack Riley, all Republicans.
staff writer
As the area continues to grow, how will Naperville Township handle the challenges of increased population and the potential increased need for services?
The six candidates vying for the four seats on the Naperville Township board recently addressed the issue.
In the past 16 years, the township population has more than quadrupled, said current trustee and Republican candidate Esin Busche. The major problem in Naperville is heavy traffic volume and congestion, she said.
The township, Busche said, can continue to work together with the cities of Naperville, Aurora and Warrenville to address those concerns, working to extend transportation services such as the current Ride DuPage (formerly called Dial-A-Ride), which offers transportation for seniors and individuals with disabilities.
She praised the township's efforts in handling the growth, saying it has “so far done a good job of lowering the operational costs while maintaining a high quality of life in the area.”
Democratic candidate Rick Klau said he discovered while campaigning that it is not a question of the quality of the service, but community awareness of the services offered � something that will only get more significant over the next years, he said.
The key, Klau said, is to find ways to communicate with the community that draw responses.
“They're just simply not aware,” he said.
He suggested publishing the township newsletter once a month instead of twice a year.
“Let's provide more in more varied ways,” he said. “I was in awe (learning) … what the township can do and does do, but that doesn't mean that it's doing everything it can do.”
Democratic candidate Janice Ilg said it is important to make sure the road infrastructure is able to handle the additional use.
“If the township grows too much, it's gridlock and nobody's happy,” she said.
The key, she said, is to keep infrastructure on par with new construction. That, Ilg said, must be done in a cost-effective way so people can continue to afford to live in the township.
Current trustee and Republican candidate Fred Spitzzeri said the township can't afford to publish a newsletter every month. But he did cite the assessor's page on the township Web site, which provides online property search information, reducing the need for staff members answering phone calls with inquiries.
Public transit is a growing need, Spitzzeri said. And as more land is considered for annexation into surrounding cities, there is an increased emphasis on municipalities working together.
“Intergovernmental cooperation becomes more and more important,” he said.
He said the township has a good relationship with neighboring governments, including the cities of Naperville and Aurora, as well as DuPage County and state representatives.
Current trustee and Republican candidate Gary Vician said he would look to other townships that have experienced the situation for guidance.
“What I believe in doing is using research and information from townships that have gone through this kind of growth,” he said.
He said Naperville Township can learn from their successes and avoid their mistakes. Vician also said it is important to keep personnel-related expenses down. He too cited the assessor's Web page as a way to keep costs low through the use of technology.
Republican candidate May Yurgaitis was recently appointed deputy trustee by the board in the absence of Trustee Richard Price, who has been unable to serve for health reasons. Yurgaitis will serve until Price returns or his term expires May 15. Price is not seeking re-election.
Yurgaitis said as a trustee she would be a liaison between the township services and the public. While the services would stay the same, she would like to see increased communication of what's available. She also said she would look to have the township work more efficiently.
“That's one of the aspects I would want to concentrate on � work more efficiently if we can and try to keep taxes down.” she said.
04/01/05 From: http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/politics/naperville/n0401tship.htm
“The Naperville Sun has endorsed Rick Klau for Township Trustee. I've known Rick for two years now (though with all we've done, it feels like more than double that - in a good way). Rick is blessed with a number of talents that the township trustees could benefit from: a belief that public communication is essential for the political process to work in the public interest, a sincere desire to communicate with the public (coupled with a great ability to do it) and a real “feel” for where things are going - and what needs to happen to get there. With Rick's technological background voters can look forward not only to hearing more from their township government (using traditional (paper) and modern communication like email, blogs (web logs), etc.) but also to innovative approaches in township government - ones that will help modernize Naperville Township and bring it to a level of quality we all expect from it.
Tomorrow is election day. Rick Klau and fellow Democratic candidate Janice L. Ilg, whose experience with the Exchange Club (helping coordinate Rib Fest among other things) has shown both public spiritedness and the type of public skill and competency we should expect from our trustees, are asking for your vote - and I join them in asking you. Vote for Rick and Janice because it is time that Naperville Township government start taking advantage of the wealth of talent in Naperville - talent that has gone untapped. Vote for them because Naperville will benefit from the quality of their skills and their communication with residents. It is time to stop wondering what Naperville Trustees do - and vote in candidates that will tell us. ”
From: http://www.wurfwhile.com/archives/cat_dupage_political_campaigns.html