George Popelka, Candidate For Palos Heights Treasurer: 2025 Election

PALOS HEIGHTS, IL — George Popelka is running for treasurer of the City of Palos Heights in the April 1 election. Early voting is from March 17 to March 31.

Your name

George Popelka

Campaign Website

George Popelka for Treasurer

Office sought

City Treasurer of Palos Heights

Town/City of Residence

Palos Heights

Party Affiliation

Non-Partisan Election

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're running for.

No

Occupation. Please include years of experience.

Business Manager/Bookkeeper/Business Accountant – By way of summary, I am a financial professional with over thirty-five (35) plus years of experience. I have worked in both non-profit as well as grant-funded organizations, with assets ranging from 1 million to 100 million dollars.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office.

During my career, I have served on many community-based boards including one where I was appointed to by the Mayor of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and elected as Board Chairperson by my peers.

The most pressing issues facing our board are _______, and this is what I intend to do about them.

I think the most pressing issue centers on transparency. Each year the city treasurer has provided the citizens of Palos Heights with a report on both income received, and expenditures incurred for the year ended on December 31st. As of March 5, 2025, the city website indicates that the last city treasurer’s report was issued for the year ended on December 31, 2019. So, what are we to make of this?

For me this is symptomatic that all is not well. How can we believe that the incumbent is committed to transparency when four (4) years of public reports due to the community have been ignored. As city treasurer, I will ensure that this as well as other information, will be made public instead of being “over-looked.”

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I believe the critical difference between myself and the incumbent centers on fiscal policy and direction. It is no secret that real estate taxes rose by 20% on average during 2024, because of the recent reassessment, which to me is simply taxation without representation. So, I ask what extra value did or are the residents of Palos Heights going to receive because of this increase? If this question cannot be answered and measured, then I propose giving the excess back.
The incumbent takes the position that these funds simply belong to the city and the increase should be treated as part of the normal business cycle.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

The incumbent certainly had an opportunity to use his office and question the impact of the impending property tax windfall and advocate for either additional value to be provided to the community or to refund the excess. Instead, the incumbent sat quietly at the table and gave little attention to the issue.
To me, the incumbent failed to consider the needs of the community. This issue, at the very least, deserved a public hearing for residents to provide their input on this major issue in Palos Heights.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

The issues that I believe define my campaign are centered on who is truly willing to represent the interests of the people of Palos Heights. Not only do I bring a strong skill set of fiscal management skills to the table, but I also pride myself in seeking to hear all sides of an issue, so that everyone is heard, and all the facts can be examined.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

During my career, I have distinguished myself as a savvy business professional having exceptional strengths in workforce deployment with a strong understanding of the major components associated with both business growth and development. In addition to being extremely successful in developing top-performing teams and creating programs to achieve long term business sustainability, my career has afforded me the opportunity to develop expert organizational, communication, leadership, and business skills.

Why should voters trust you?
As your City Treasurer, I would focus on ensuring that both the interests of the city and its residents are paramount in any policy-based decision or action. In support of this position, one only needs to look at my record as a member of Lions International, Sertoma and Civitan International.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?

For me, I envision a city treasurer’s office which is not only transparent and current with its reports, but one that also serves as a voice for the citizens of Palos Heights. Someone who will question policies and decisions and seek supportive documentation. And if the information supporting a decision seems to be weak or non-existent, then use the office and share the shortcomings accordingly with the public.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the handling of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

While taxes are necessary to conduct the public’s business, taxes like any other transaction, needs to be managed so that those who pay local taxes receive proportional value. Government is a service provider, and those services should be delivered professionally and promptly.

To me it is unreasonable that a homeowner who suffered the loss of a roof on May 7, 2024, should have had to wait four (4) to eight (8) weeks to get a permit to restore one’s home after a major storm. All this during a fiscal year when the city was the beneficiary of a property tax windfall. Somehow city priorities were not in alignment with the needs of the community.
What are your thoughts on the crime rate in your community, and what more can be done to combat crime — especially violent crime — in Palos Heights?

We are truly fortunate to have an incredibly low crime rate in Palos Heights. One goal that I believe would help to preserve this situation would be to develop a program so that every home has some type of electronic doorbell monitoring system in place. This type of technology would provide additional surveillance and information to assist local law enforcement if individual police services are required within Palos Heights, as well as to serve as a deterrent to criminal activity.

What is your view of the city's/village's approach to commercial and residential development?

This question is at the forefront of every community. While Palos Heights is developed, consumer patterns have changed dramatically over the past five (5) years. This is evident by the number of delivery trucks who occupy the streets of our community daily.

At the most recent election forum, I learned that there is $400K in TIF Funds ready to be used to help improve the local business district.

Certainly, to have financial resources available to implement a program is extremely helpful, but there are more aspects to this issue than simply buying houses and creating parking lots. In short, more time needs to be spent on both data collection and creating measured outcomes, so that the dollars spent can truly have the impact for which they were intended.

When it comes to development, what are some key areas for improvement or additions you feel are most wanted by residents? What will need to be done to make this happen?

I certainly would say that to update Harlem Avenue would be a desired goal. However, beyond the Harlem Avenue Project, the city needs to be initiative-taking to ensure that Pete’s does eventually open, but when Pete’s opens, it is not at the expense of losing the Jewel. The city is assuming that the Jewel’s continued operation is a given. In this current business environment, such an assumption is ill advised.

What city policies do you believe need updating or rescinding? Explain why.

Certainly, over time, situations, and circumstances change. Unfortunately, unless some catastrophic situation occurs, policies often do not. In any organization, it is extremely prudent to review an agency’s policies and procedures to ensure they are both relevant and up to date.

Should there be term limits on municipal boards? Why or why not?

Yes. While there are compelling arguments on both sides of this issue, term limits serve to deter the growth and development of career politicians. I am mindful of the adage that power corrupts and absolute power, corrupts absolutely. Certainly, the most recent examples of what happens when there are no term limits in place and individuals acquire considerable power, can be best illustrated in the recent cases involving Edward Burke and Michael Madigan. And for history buffs, let us not forget Paul Powell.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

No.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Throughout my life, I have been engaged in public service for decades. Serving both as an active volunteer and supporter of the Illinois Epilepsy Association, Easter Seals, the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, the Chicago Hearing Society, and the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation. As a long time, member of our local community, I have been a staunch supporter and participant in the Palos Area Chamber of Commerce, Sacred Heart Parish as well as Lions, Sertoma and Civitan International. These experiences have served me well in helping me to become collaborative within policy discussions, thus adding greater value to any organization with which I am associated.
Among the unique skills which I possess are specialties in Administration and Management, Financial Audits, Program Costs and Development, Policy & Regulatory Compliance, Budget Development & Management as well as being a Solutions-Driven Analytical Person.

To become a better business professional, I have attended the University of Illinois at the Medical Center, Tulane University School of Business, University of Colorado Springs in Colorado Springs as well as Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. All my certifications are available within my LinkedIn Profile.

Be assured that if I am elected, this will not be my first rodeo. I will do my best to continue making Palos Heights a wonderful place to live.