Siv Panicker For Plainfield Trustee: Candidate Survey

PLAINFIELD, IL — Siv Panicker is one of three candidates running to become a trustee on the Plainfield Village Board.

In the April 1 Consolidated Election, Panicker is running alongside Vanessa Sula and incumbent Tom Ruane for the three open trustee seats. The expiring Village Board seats are currently held by trustees Patricia Kalkanis, Cally Larson and Ruane.

A fourth candidate, Peter Adamson, was originally in the running for trustee but was removed after the Illinois Board of Elections deemed him "ineligible" in early February, Patch reported.

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 Panicker's answers below:

Office sought: Trustee

Campaign website: www.sivfortrustee.com

Town of residence: Plainfield

Party Affiliation (if a partisan race): Independent

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: Software engineer (four years), entrepreneur (15 years), stock trader (years years)

Previous or current elected or appointed office: None.

The most pressing issues facing Plainfield are _______, and this is what I intend to do about them. I discovered that many residents, at least 90% of them, voiced concerns about property tax increases. Residents still find the real estate property taxes for their homes to be extremely exorbitant, despite the village official's statements that they have lowered total tax revenue from 88% to 80%. We don't have enough business tax revenue to cover our growing village expenses, so I would say that's the main reason for the real estate tax increases. Adding new businesses to the village could help reduce the rising tax burdens and create more job possibilities.

The traffic surrounding downtown Plainfield is heavier, and it extends to and from 143rd St, 126th St, Rt 30, and Rt 59. By expanding 143rd St. to the west and east, it is good to see that the village of Plainfield is already working to resolve traffic problems. Our village's population has nearly doubled in the last 20 years, approaching 50,000 currently. However, our village's infrastructure appears to be the same, and additional subdivisions are popping up everywhere.

These challenges will be my top objectives if I am elected, and I will work with the appropriate authorities, such as the mayor and other village trustees, Plainfield township officials, and Will County officials, to find the best solutions to address them.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post? I would say my education and the last 20 years of experience in businesses and community services. I owned, operated, and managed multiple businesses, like web designing and e-commerce, medical offices, grocery stores, jewelry stores, and gas stations. This is my 8th year of residency in the village of Plainfield with my family.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)? Let me say it this way: I have chosen to contest in the election because I want to serve the community I live in; that’s my interest. I think other candidates also think the same, given that Plainfield is a nonpartisan governmental entity. Therefore, everyone shares responsibility for any success or failure.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform. Safe place for family and children, creating more jobs and business opportunities, expense reduction, government transparency, and sustainable development.

As previously mentioned, the village of Plainfield has a nonpartisan system of governance, meaning that no trustee has the authority to make decisions alone. Problems must be approached together, and any answers must be found through collaborative work.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? I have pursued a diverse and rewarding career. In addition to a master’s degree in physics, I earned several certifications (computer programming and cybersecurity) in information technology, worked as a software engineer, and successfully launched businesses ranging from web design to grocery stores and medical offices. Today, as a full-time stock trader, I bring a wealth of professional experience and a unique perspective that, I believe, can benefit our community.

Why should voters trust you? I have resided in this area with my family for the past 30 years, and this is my 8th year of residency in the village of Plainfield. Throughout this time, I've built strong relationships with my neighbors and customers, which has only reinforced my commitment to integrity and trustworthiness.

What truly matters is having a leader who listens, understands, and acts with integrity. You deserve a representative who will stand with you, advocating for your concerns and ensuring they are addressed. I'll do everything in my power to help my neighborhood

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office a success? See, if I get elected, I will stand for the people of the village of Plainfield, so their concerns are my concerns also. If I can address their concerns, I regard it as my success in the office. I am a big advocate of making Plainfield a more affordable and secure environment for families and children, lowering the rising tax load of the residents, lowering the expenditure, and saving taxpayers money.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the handling of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking? Lowering the expenditure and saving taxpayers money is one of my top priorities if I am elected. It can involve identifying and removing unnecessary expenses or finding more affordable alternatives for essential items. Increasing transparency and making it harder for fraud and waste to occur. I will collaborate with other village board members to make it happen.

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? The Village of Plainfield is already among Illinois's least violent cities. The police force is tasked with maintaining the safety of our village. However, some locals voiced their concerns about the opening of a cannabis store in Plainfield village. I'll check into these issues to see how they affect our communities because we always care about and seek out safe and drug-free spaces for kids to grow up in.

What is your view of the village's approach to commercial and residential development? I am in favor of bringing more business and industrial growth to our community; we also have to give the same importance to retaining businesses in our community, and it is essential to the community as it brings more tax revenue to the village and more job opportunities to our community. But I am not in favor of approving more subdivisions because we already have enough population; I would say it is approaching 50000 and brings additional tax burdens to residents. Also, traffic is already high as of now, and it gets worse by adding more residential areas. I am not saying we don’t want any more new residential improvements, but we need to put a freeze on approving new subdivisions for a while.

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? Developing the Plainfield downtown area is an option to attract more businesses, including high-profile franchises, shopping malls, hotels, and office buildings. Probably we can have it along the side of Rt30, Rt59, and 126th St. It will help us maintain our spending in our town and compete with nearby cities. It will lessen the additional tax burden on residents and assist us in generating more tax income for the village and job possibilities.

Lowering the amount of traffic in and around the city center. Roads and intersections should be extended and expanded for traffic safety.

By employing sustainable energy, we can encourage sustainable life for present and future generations. A team effort is required to modify our vision. I'll collaborate with current board members to accomplish this.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family? No reason. I am available to serve the full term.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions? I am honored to announce my candidacy for Village Trustee of the Village of Plainfield. I humbly ask for your support and your vote as we work together to build a stronger, more vibrant community. If elected, I promise to serve as that advocate—treating your priorities as my own and collaborating with the village to make Plainfield an even better place to live, work, and thrive. The village trustee position is for a four-year term. A village trustee primarily acts as a legislative body member, responsible for enacting ordinances, approving budgets, establishing village policies, and representing constituents, etc.