Election 2013: Vincent LaVecchia for Sixth Ward of Park Ridge

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Name: Vincent LaVecchia

Position sought: Sixth Ward Alderman of Park Ridge

Campaign contact information. Please include any or all of the following: website, email address, phone number, Facebook page, Twitter account, mailing address, etc.

Website: www.VincentLaVecchia.com

Email: contact@vincentlavecchia.com

Facebook: facebook.com/votevincent

Age: 36

Family Include as much info as you like (names, ages, number of children, etc.):  Married to Carol (Stoltz) LaVecchia. Children – Alyssa, 5, Gianna, 3, Jake, 2.

Education Include degree(s) and school(s):

Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from Northeastern Illinois University.

Graduated from Notre Dame High School in Niles.

Occupation: As a business development manager for a privately-owned manufacturer of specialty packaging, I work with some of the largest food and beverage companies in the country, as well as, retail and restaurant chains. I have also been licensed in Illinois as a real estate managing broker since 2006. 

Political Party: Nonpartisan election

Official name of your campaign committee (if you have one):

Elect Vincent LaVecchia

Previous Elected or Appointed Offices:

This is my first time running for an elective office. I think a fresh voice like mine, with no affiliation with past or present elected officials, will be a benefit to the Sixth Ward. My sole focus will be on representing the interest of taxpayers.

Is there any additional experience you believe qualifies you for the position?

As a business development manager, I lead a team of professionals who are challenged on a daily basis to offer excellent service and provide technical solutions to ever changing problems to some of the largest food and beverage companies in the country. I am responsible for setting and staying within quarterly budgets without sacrificing best in industry results.  

As a real estate broker, I understand the factors that impact property values, as well as what draws people to Park Ridge. 

What would your priorities be if elected to this office?

• My primary goal is to get revenue-producing businesses to fill the numerous “for rent” signs throughout the city. Property tax payers cannot alone bear the weight of the cost of the city services they deserve. 
• I will make sure we are business friendly. I will request city staff to document the progress being made to get businesses to invest in our city. I will then contact the businesses so they can share their experiences with elected officials. I will then propose appropriate improvements to the City Council.
• We should invest in infrastructure, such as appropriate flood relief. As someone who has had our sewer backup three times, I understand the huge cost to taxpayers when infrastructure fails. I know how it feels to have to invest in a $10,000 flood control system in order to protect our home. 
• I also believe in the value of our trees. Our current city council removed 65 percent of the amount budgeted for tree replacement. Our city forester has said that Park Ridge will look like a parking lot in the future if we stay on this path. Trees are a part of the character of this city and provide many environmental benefits as well.
• I will ask that all votes and vetoes be documented on the Park Ridge website. This is a simple way to remain accountable to the voters.
• I will represent the individual needs of the Sixth Ward. As I have knocked on doors throughout the Sixth Ward, it shocked me to learn how under-represented we have been. I will conduct town hall-style meetings, as well as keep an updated website to constantly engage the residents of the ward. Many people are apathetic because they have no idea who their alderman is. I am already active in church, school, parks and neighborhood activities. I will use my energy to seek input from all residents.

Why did you choose to run for alderman?

The Sixth Ward needs common sense representation. As I have monitored city politics and attended almost every recent city council meeting, it is clear a new voice is needed. I am raising three children in this community and will bring a voice that will take responsibility now for our future. My wife is a lifelong Park Ridge resident, and I hope my children will always remain a part of this community. I will work to offer common sense solutions to help taxpayers struggling to find answers.

By keeping my focus on the future of our community, I have avoided the pitfalls of my opponent, who has too often tried to score cheap political points in the present by heavily burdening taxpayers in the future. For example, both the pension board and city council rejected my opponent’s proposal that would underfund pensions. I will represent the ward with fiscal integrity by being honest and transparent with taxpayers. 

What are the most important issues facing Park Ridge and what would you do as alderman to address them?

• Property tax payers are overburdened. I want to alleviate some of that burden by filling the “for rent” signs with revenue-producing businesses. I will constantly seek solutions that save the city money.
• Infrastructure needs improvement. I will make sure the city is diligent in investing in sewer projects and other infrastructure. 
• Sound solutions are needed for the problems with the TIF. I look forward to the city manager’s analysis of the Kane McKenna report.
• Public safety is always a top priority of local government. I will stay in contact with the police and fire departments and support appropriate investments in their futures.

What is one of the most important issues facing residents in your ward, and what would you do, if elected, to address it?

While the Sixth Ward faces many of the same issues facing the rest of the city, it has seen more flooding and electrical outages than other wards. My neighbors and I have felt those failures first hand. I will put pressure on the utility companies to ensure that they recognize and solve the problems of the past. O’Hare expansion also remains a major issue in the Sixth Ward. I will represent the ward, will listen to their concerns and be active in seeking solutions.

It has been estimated that the Uptown tax increment financing fund, or TIF, will cost the general fund approximately $1 million annually. What action would you support the city take to address the Uptown TIF debt, why?

There is no silver bullet to end the problems with the TIF. I will seek a multi-tiered solution. I am intrigued by a few of the ideas from the Kane Mckenna report. 

For example:

• Proposing new tax codes that could improve incremental property tax revenue.
• Working with intergovernmental organizations to have them recognize the true results of the TIF versus the projected results; and
• Looking into refunding option one that could save taxpayers $1,602,785 for the life of the TIF.

I would need to analyze the specific impact to Park Ridge on any solution. I look forward to the report from the city manager.

O’Hare International Airport has plans to construct a cargo facility in the northeast portion of the airport, which will increase air traffic over Park Ridge during the nighttime. Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administration is expected to respond to letters sent by Park Ridge regarding flight traffic sometime this year. What would you do, if elected, to represent Park Ridge residents’ interests with regard to noise pollution and expansion of airport operations?

• Our ward needs to understand the facts of O’Hare expansion and how it will affect the residents of the ward. 
• I support a “fly quiet” program.
• I will seek political solutions to ease the burden on Park Ridge.   
• I will attend ONCC meetings and encourage the mayor and city manager to lead a unified effort for the whole city.
• I support keeping the runway over Arlington Heights open, so Park Ridge is not unfairly impacted.

Why would you do a better job representing Park Ridge than your opponent? Or, if you’re running unopposed, what makes you a strong candidate?

Since I began my campaign, I have run a positive campaign. I will represent the taxpayers now for our future. I will represent the ward with common sense solutions. I have shared my vision of how to alleviate some burden on taxpayers. I have a website, www.vincentlavecchia.com, that has reached over 300 individual visitors since February. People want to be engaged. I will use my business experience to find solutions and get the most out of city staff to help the taxpayers. I will be held accountable by my neighbors. 

Unfortunately, the incumbent has run a very negative and dishonest campaign. It has been disappointing to me, as well as many others, that he has chosen to engage in ugly personal attacks and exaggerations about my positions instead of running on his record.

Perhaps it is because he has a record of being hostile to business and indifferent to the fiscal future of our residents.  If we go down his path of hostility toward business, homeowners will bear the burden beyond their fair share. Our water rates have risen. The so-called “Mazzuca Amendment,” which replaced a paid study commissioned by the city, picks winners and losers as he sees fit. 

Character is an important consideration. While I will always treat residents, the city council and city staff with respect, there have been a number of incidents of my opponent’s hostility toward me, city staff and Sixth Ward residents. In a recent forum, he engaged in a personal attack like no other candidate.  In addition, his actions toward a ward resident were documented at the 1:58 mark in this online video. I encourage the voters to choose a candidate that will diligently represent them.