Kevin Calkins For Plainfield Mayor: Candidate Survey

PLAINFIELD, IL — Four candidates are looking to become the next mayor of Plainfield.

In the April 1 Consolidated Election, voters will be asked to choose between incumbent mayor John Argoudelis, current trustees Margie Bonuchi and Cally Larson and former trustee Kevin Calkins for the head role in the village.

RELATED: Plainfield 2025 Consolidated Election: Who Filed For Mayor, Trustee

Patch sent surveys to Plainfield candidates ahead of the election. Responses will be published as they're received. Take a look at Calkins's answers below:

Your name: Kevin Calkins

Office sought: Mayor

Campaign website: www.CalkinsForMayor.com, Facebook

Town of residence: Plainfield

Party affiliation (if partisan race): No answer.

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: An airline pilot for American Airlines for 28 years. I have been a captain for 18 years. I fly international routes.

Previous or current elected or appointed office: Village of Plainfield Trustee 2019-2023

The most pressing issues facing Plainfield are _______, and this is what I intend to do about them. Traffic and Planning are our most pressing issues. Over the last several years our Village leadership has approached these issues in the same way and in my opinion it is not working. There have been many mistakes made, almost all of them approved by my opponents. Under Mayor Argoudelis’ leadership, development has exploded despite many residents begging to slow down and focus on infrastructure. Issues that come before the Board tend to be viewed in isolation without considering the cumulative effect of the project on the town as a whole. I believe we need to implement standards that will allow our growth to be within our control and allow for future growth to take place without placing a strain on our town. A few standards that would help are decent set backs off of roads, an emphasis on green space, lower density for both commercial and residential developments, and mandating that developers improve roads around their projects. I believe we can make changes that won’t cost taxpayers a lot of money (and in some cases will not cost us anything) but will make a huge impact now and in the future.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post? Mayor Argoudelis and Trustee Bonuchi are very similar in their approach to planning, traffic, economic development, and Village Governance. While on the Board with both of them, I tried to find common ground, but the reality is I approach issues very differently than either one of them. I believe the residents matter and should be placed first in any policy or project that comes out of the Village. If you have ever had an issue or a project near your home, you have probably felt invisible or unheard. There was once a time when our small town had to work to gain the attention of developers but those days are behind us especially for housing developments and warehouses. We now have the bargaining power necessary to place demand on developers to safeguard the well being of our residents.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)? Mayor Argoudelis promised to make changes to what’s wrong with Village Government and overhaul departments. He has done none of that and has continued the mistakes of the last 20+ years. His campaign disclosure forms prove that he has continued the cronyism that he complains about. There are multiple examples of people and companies that have contributed to his campaign that had business before the Board. Plainfield is not for sale, the residents deserve better!

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform. The premise of my campaign is the residents, large scale planning, and small details that get overlooked. First, I believe we need to return our focus to the voice of the residents. I would like the Village to instill a culture that is centered around our residents, whether it is supplying information at every step of the process that encourages resident input rather than just towards the end of the process when votes are already secured, creating a forum that allows better conversations with concerned/affected residents, or allowing a collaborative effort between Village staff, Village Board members and residents. Our current administration has forgotten the simple truth that the government works for its citizens. Second, our planning needs to take a comprehensive approach rather than looking through everything in a bubble. We must create a structure that allows developers to come into our town and enhance it as we have planned rather than the current environment where we react to the latest developers ideas. That doesn’t mean we have all the answers right now as the world is always evolving, but this structure should allow us to evolve with the times. Third, the small details (as stated above in a prior question) are a critical part to this vision. While they may seem small, they make a big impact and are the difference between success and failure in creating a town rich in activities and opportunities while maintaining our cherished history that has long made Plainfield unique.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? I have a unique skill set and background that makes me the best person to be Mayor of Plainfield for the next four years. I was Village Trustee for one term and sat on an IDOT I-55 committee as a citizen representative. Both of these accomplishments have given me a unique perspective to the inner workings of government both locally and at the state level. As an Airline Captain for 18 years, I have learned to manage personalities within my crew, challenges in the cabin, and various customer issues that as Captain only reach me when they have escalated to a critical level. Being an Airline Captain requires managing several variables at one time, such as weather issues, medical emergencies, and traffic control directions, which is a valuable skill to have when managing a town as big as our own.

Why should voters trust you? I have nothing to gain by running for Mayor. My only reason to run for Mayor is to do what’s best for Plainfield and to be the person who fights for you and finally delivers for the residents of Plainfield what they have long deserved. My goal is to set Plainfield on its most transparent path yet and restore a culture in our government that will last for years to come.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success? My goal is to restore honesty and transparency at all levels of our government and to provide a framework that allows development to integrate into our town easily and maintain our rich history that makes Plainfield unique.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the handling of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking? I consider fiscal responsibility and careful handling of tax payer dollars to be one of the most important responsibilities of the Mayor. It is important to balance property taxes and the expenditures of the Village. Each tax dollar that we spend or collect should be held in high regard.

What are your thoughts on the crime rate in your community, and what more can be done to combat crime — especially violent crime — in town? Plainfield historically has been a very safe town to live in. As a Trustee, I voted to support the Plainfield Police Dept and will continue to advocate for any resources they need to continue to keep our town safe. It is important to be proactive.

What is your view of the village's approach to commercial and residential development? The Village’s approach to development is reactive rather than proactive. They approve what a developer brings to them without applying the standards that Plainfield once set. Regardless of which administration you look at, the mentality has been roughly the same for 20+ years. The results are taking a toll and will continue to if we don’t take a different approach. Mayor Argoudelis had the opportunity to change paths and has not taken it. Instead he has doubled down on the mistakes of the past.

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? The complaints I hear most from residents are regarding the high density developments that continue to be approved despite our fragile infrastructure. Over the last 2-3 years, the Board has approved several warehouse projects that total more than 7 million sqft of space under roof. There are a total of 4 warehouse projects out west that each include several buildings crammed into the space rather than spreading the project out and having a lower density industrial area. Residents have also expressed an interest in a variety of housing options. In the last decade or more, the lot sizes have decreased in size. I have heard many people express an interest in larger lots including homes that sit on an acre or more. This would add to the rural feel that most find appealing about Plainfield, while minimizing the impact on schools and our roads and add a diverse collection of homes.

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? I truly want what’s best for Plainfield. Financing my own campaign, I am beholden to no one except the voters. I don’t have $50,000 in my campaign fund because I don’t want builders, developers, unions, and road builders thinking I owe them something. I am running for Mayor because I see specific problems that I want to fix for the residents of Plainfield. I work for you and encourage you to come along with me to improve our government's culture. Vote for Calkins on April 1st!