Election 2013: Greg Hosé

Greg Hosé is one of six candidates running for the Downers Grove Village Council in the 2013 election. Hosé, 31, is an attorney who holds degrees from Michigan State University and the George Washington School of Law. He is currently the chair of the Downers Grove Plan Commission.

Name: Greg Hosé

Position sought: Commissioner, Downers Grove Village Council

Age: 31

Campaign website: www.gregfordg.com

Campaign email address: greg@greghose.com

Family (name, relationship and age): Wife, Rose Mary, 31; daughter, Evelyn, 3

Education (degree and school): Bachelor's degree in political theory and constitutional democracy from the Michigan State University; J.D. from the George Washington University Law School

Occupation: Attorney

Previous elected offices: None

Applicable experience qualifying you for the position: I served our community for three years on the Downers Grove Environmental Concerns Commission. I now serve as chair of Downers Grove’s Plan Commission. I have worked alongside commission members, village staff and residents to find practical solutions to our common concerns. This experience has also provided me with a working knowledge of our village’s operations and procedures. As an attorney, I am privileged to help people work through a broad variety of business challenges on a daily basis.

What is the primary reason you are running for this office?

We must protect the unique character of Downers Grove while building a solid foundation for our future. I will help keep the Council on task. I will be a caretaker to ensure that our tax dollars are invested wisely and will make sure that infighting and personal political concerns are never put before the betterment of Downers Grove. I want to restore civility, make government work more efficiently, and ensure our infrastructure is maintained.

What will be your single most important priority if you get elected?

I know we can accomplish more when the Council works cooperatively and I want to help bring that kind of balance to the chamber. I want to help open more opportunities for working directly with other governmental units to eliminate redundancies and leverage resources to improve efficient service delivery to all Downers Grove residents.Doing so will reduce local government’s share of our property tax bill while not depriving residents of quality services.

What sets you apart from the other candidates? 

My service to Downers Grove has given me perspective on how our government works; yet I am independent and not tied to any special interest. As a father, I am much more concerned about the Village’s future success than political alliances or the next election. My professional work requires me to make decisions based on facts and comprehensive analysis. This combination of perspective, personal investment, and practical experience is unique among the field.

How long have you lived in Downers Grove and/or been active in local issues? 

We chose Downers Grove as the perfect place to start our family six years ago. I became a member of the Environmental Concerns Commission in 2009 and was appointed to the Plan Commission in 2011. In addition to now serving as the chair of the commission, I am also an active member of St. Joseph's Parish and the Knights of Columbus.

What's your favorite thing about Downers Grove? 

Downers Grove has a very special small town feel and identity while still having a vibrant lifestyle and all the advantages of being in the center of a major metropolitan area. The people here really are good neighbors in every respect and that personal investment in each other and our community shows at all levels. It’s clear why so many people want to make Downers Grove their home for life.

What is the biggest challenge facing Downers Grove?

The biggest challenge that has been facing Downers Grove for years is our inadequate investment in key infrastructure throughout the Village. The Village failed to budget enough for basic maintenance of our roadways long before the recession limited our funding and several streets were left to decay to the point of needing complete replacement. The multiple major construction projects underway around Downers Grove are far more costly than the regular maintenance these roads needed. The village is still carrying a $1.2 million deficit in infrastructure maintenance today. We must implement cost containment strategies and consolidate redundant services wherever possible to free up funds to eliminate this deficit.

My plans for the council include making the most of our tax dollars, planning for the future, and working cooperatively across units of government to deliver the best and most cost effective benefits to our residents.

Related Pages:

• Election 2013: Downers Grove Village Council 
• Election 2013: Robert "Bob" Barnett
• Election 2013: Marilyn J. Schnell
• Election 2013: David S. Olsen
• Election 2013: Susan Walaszek
• Election 2013: Don Jankowski

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

There are plenty of ways to keep up on Downers Grove news:

• Sign up for our daily email newsletter

• Like us on Facebook for a slightly different take