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Board’s big issue? It’s the traffic
By Robert Sanchez, Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Thursday, February 23, 2006
Traffic congestion is the top issue for candidates in the most-crowded DuPage County board race.
“Anyone who has taken 45 minutes to drive across Naperville knows there’s a problem,” Joseph Wozniak said during a Wednesday meeting with the Daily Herald’s editorial board.
“Traffic congestion is getting bigger and bigger by the day,” the 63-year-old Naperville real estate consultant said. “How long are we going to wait before we do something?”
The three other candidates in the District 5 Republican primary — E. “Erin:” Busche, Richard Tarulis and Michael Connelly — agree.
“In my opinion, traffic congestion is the No. 1 problem in the county; worse than taxes and crime,” said Tarulis, a 47-year-old Naperville attorney.
The candidates differ when it comes to how they would address the problem.
Wozniak said he would like more bus and trolley routes created throughout the district, which includes all or parts of Aurora, Lisle, Naperville, Warrenville and Woodridge. He also would like to see more commuter rail lines.
Busche said expanding and modifying public transportation services could entice more commuters to leave their cars at home.
“The state, county and local governments need to work together … to find ways to increase services and make them more flexible so people have an incentive to use public transit,” said Busche, a Naperville Township trustee.
For example, Busche said, one of the reasons more people don’t use the train is because it’s difficult to find parking at the train stations.
Connelly said he believes the addition of turn lanes in the right places could help improve the flow of traffic.
The 41-year-old Lisle trustee pointed to the county’s recently completed widening of a roughly half-mile stretch of Maple Avenue from Steeple Run Drive to Yackley Avenue.
As part of the $1.5 million project, a continuous dedicated turning lane was created to give drivers time to make left turns into Benedictine University and Benet Academy and several side streets.
And the result has been reduced delays and fewer accidents, Connelly said.
“You don’t need to make 75th Street a superhighway to improve traffic flow,” he said.
If elected, Tarulis said he would work to reduce the number of curb cuts on major roads and mandate turn lanes at all new intersections.
He also has a unique suggestion for encouraging people to reduce their daily commute — an economic incentive program for residents who are moving to relocate closer to their place of employment.
The crowded field is the result of incumbent District 5 board member Robert Heap's decision to give up his seat. He is running for county treasurer.
Richard J. Tarulis
Age: 47.
Residence: Naperville.
Family: Wife, Nancy; son, Justin; daughter, Rebecca; grandsons, Payton and Owen.
Education: Juris doctorate, 1987, Northern Illinois University College of Law, DeKalb; bachelor's degree in electronics management from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale; associate's degree in data processing from Los Angeles Community College, Los Angeles.
Employer: Partner with Brooks, Adams and Tarulis, Naperville, 1996-present.
Political experience: Township clerk in Lisle Township (2002-2005); township trustee in Lisle Township (2000-2001); Republican precinct committeeman in Lisle Township.
Community involvement: Chairman for state Rep. Mary Lou Cowlishaw campaign committee (2002-present); parliamentarian, Lisle Township Republican organization (1996-present); treasurer for state Rep. Mary Lou Cowlishaw campaign committee (1995-present); finance committee, state Sen. Chris Lauzen (1993-present); extended member, DuPage County Board of Review (1990-1991); treasurer, Naperville Veterans Memorial Committee (1989-present); local counsel, Cantigny War Museum (1988-present).
Issue 1: Traffic: Traffic congestion is the No. 1 problem in the county, worse than taxes and crime. I would work to reduce the number of curb cuts on major roads, mandate turn lanes at all new intersection construction, and continue to implement the traffic light coordination program. I would also like to implement an economic incentive program for people who are moving to relocate closer to their places of employment, in order to reduce the amount of commuting each day. A business referral program may also increase efficiency and profits if two or more competing businesses would be willing to refer work to each other so that, for example, two landscaping companies on opposite ends of the county don't drive across the county for a small job, but would refer the job to each other.
Issue 2: Finances: The county board was responsible and prudent to raise the tax levy this year. For 10 years, the actual tax levy has been going down, not just the tax rate. Last year, the levy was slightly over $62 million. This year, the levy was raised over $2 million, less than the cost of living. I agree that there should be sufficient funds on hand to pay for the budgeted expenditures and also maintain a prudent reserve. The additional taxes are largely offset by reduced borrowing costs, because the county has been able to maintain its AAA bond rating. The current county budget, not including the health department, is approximately $480 million. The corporate fund, for all general government expenses, increased by less than 2.5 percent. The budget is balanced, including all debt service, and maintains the County's AAA bond rating. I have read all 182 pages of the current budget. I like that the county does its budget before the levy.
Issue 3: Property tax reform: I would like to explore a local income tax by school districts, where the money is collected by the county treasurer and paid directly to the school district, in order to give dollar-for-dollar property tax relief. I would also like to explore a property tax deferral program, where eligible seniors could accrue a portion of their property taxes until their home is sold.
From: http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/politics/naperville/n17dup5th.html