About Rick:
Community. My wife Robin and I moved to Naperville four years ago. We have become active members of the community, volunteering at local events (like RibFest), participating in family activities through the Park District, and exploring the surrounding areas with our two boys. We attend Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Naperville, where Robin is on the Missions Board. We have lived in many communities throughout the country, and find Naperville to be an ideal place to raise our family. We are looking forward to living here for a long time.
Professional. I am a lawyer by training (I graduated from the University of Richmond School of Law), but have worked in the technology industry for the past ten years. I am currently the VP of Business Development for Socialtext, a software start-up that is based in Silicon Valley, and I work from a home office when not meeting with customers. Prior to working for Socialtext, I was part of the management team at Interface Software, a software company based in Oak Brook.
Political. I became politically active during the last presidential election. I was fortunate to be active early on the Howard Dean campaign - a campaign I was drawn to not because of his stance on the war but his commitment to equal rights for all Americans and his focus on encouraging individuals to get active in their communities. (It was thanks to his urging that I decided to run for Trustee.) I served as a technology advisor to both the Howard Dean and Barack Obama campaigns, am a Precinct Captain for Precinct 33 in Naperville, and am currently the Chair of the Naperville Democrats.
Personal. My wife and I met while I was in law school in Richmond, and married in 1997. Our boys turn 3 (Robby) and 5 (Ricky) in March, and we have a huge Golden Retriever who is certain he's still just a lap dog. Growing up, my family moved around quite a bit (my Dad worked for G.E. for twelve years). By junior high we'd settled in New England, living just outside of Boston. I attended Lafayette College in Pennsylvania, where I received degrees in International Affairs and French. I then attended law school at the University of Richmond School of Law, where I founded the world's first law journal to publish exclusively online, and received my J.D. in 1996.
Issues:
Improved Communication. The Township website and Supervisor Porter's statements about the Township's communication program (“We put out two newsletters a year”) both indicate that the Township is not committed to adequately informing Naperville Township Residents. We must educate the residents about the role of Township government, then we must communicate with the residents about the programs we provide. This includes increasing Township newsletters to monthly (from the current twice/year), creating an e-mail list for residents to receive timely notice of Township services and activities, and publishing detailed information about the Township government and its services available to residents.
Transparent Government. At the very least, advance publication of meeting agendas and publication of past meeting minutes should be required. Residents can't be expected to attend every meeting in person; but it should be easy for anyone interested to find out what the Township is currently working on and who to contact with any questions. For the Township to fulfill its democratic legacy, it must be more open to its constituents.
Represent all of Naperville Township. While certain responsibilities - such as the maintenance of unincorporated roads - specifically concerns residents in unincorporated areas, residents who are affected by the Township's decisions include residents in incorporated areas of Naperville. It is imperative that all residents affected by Township decisions be consulted so that the Township is representative of all citizens, not just a select few.
Provide for the needy. One of the Township's mandatory responsibilities is to provide services for the those who may not be able to provide for themselves. We are fortunate to live in a community where many families are well-provided for, but that does not change the reality that as it gets more expensive to live in Naperville, it is increasingly difficult for some families to make ends meet. The Township is in the unique position of being able to make a difference for our neighbors who need help - and the Township should invest in promoting existing services (too few are aware of what options are available) and explore other services that can materially improve the community for our less fortunate neighbors.
It is my belief that committing the above will result in a stronger, more representative community that we can all be proud of. I look forward to the opportunity to serve the community of Naperville Township.
Age: 33.
Residence: Naperville.
Party: Democrat.
Family: Married to Robin Klau; two sons, Ricky, 5, and Robby, 3.
Education: Acton-Boxborough Regional High School, Acton, Mass.; Lafayette College, Easton, Pa., international affairs and French; University of Richmond T.C. Williams School of Law, Richmond, Va., juris doctorate.
Employer: Vice president, business development, Socialtext Inc., Palo Alto, Calif.
Political experience: Chairman, Naperville Township Democratic Organization, 2004 to present; delegate for Howard Dean; speaker, Democratic National Convention, Convention Training, panelist for “Technology Strategy in Campaigns”; technology, communications strategy consultant, Obama for Illinois; founder and chair, DuPage for Dean; technology strategy adviser, Dean for America.
Community involvement: Volunteer, Naperville Ribfest, 2003 and 2004; parent helper, Kids Karate Klub, Naperville Park District; member, Our Saviour's Lutheran Church.
Q: What challenges are facing the township as the surrounding cities continue to annex property and increase in population?
A: Naperville Township should play a pivotal role in the economic and population growth of the area, yet our region lacks an overall vision that would guide future growth and give Naperville Township a real say in how that growth is managed and planned for. Naperville Township must work with surrounding townships and municipalities to build a cohesive development plan that will foster manageable growth, ensure that resources are available to sustain that growth, and provide a road map for future leaders to build upon. If this continued growth is not managed effectively, the township will find that demand for its services (especially those for seniors and the needy) will far outstrip its ability to provide them, leaving residents unable to make ends meet and the township unable to fulfill its legal obligations.
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: With the increased cost of living in our community, many individuals (including single parents and the elderly) find themselves just one crisis away from not being able to make ends meet. When this happens, those individuals are often forced to leave the community altogether. The township must ensure that its assistance and senior programs are not only of the caliber we expect in Naperville, but are effectively communicated so that all who can benefit from them do benefit. When that happens, we can be confident that our community continues to earn its family-friendly reputation � for everyone in the family regardless of age or circumstance.
Q: How would you describe your township to a visitor from outside the area?
A: When our friends around the country ask why my wife and I chose to raise our children in Naperville, I tell them that Naperville is unique in preserving the charm of the small town it once was while also offering world-class services often found only in the largest cities in the country. More than a Chicago suburb, Naperville is its own hub of activity, a destination for recreation, education and living. Naperville is a community I would be tremendously proud to serve.
03/23/05 From: http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/sunpub/naper/election/klau.htm
Response to Chamber of Commerce Questionnaire: http://www.naperville.net/government/Candidate%20Response%202005/candidates_naperville_township_rick_klau.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