Contact Info
- Position sought: Trustee
- Address: Orland Park, IL.
- E-mail address: teach134@msn.com
Personal Info
- Age: 67
- Family:Wife, Carol (Married (46 Years), Children (3 Married) Grandchildren (8) All live in this area.
- Education: St. Xavier University, Saint Rita High School, Saint Mary Seminary.
- Occupation: Retired. Previously worked as journeyman wireman instructor at IBEW-NECA Technical Institute, teaching photovoltaic’s (Solar Design and Installation), electrical code, motor control wiring and design, print reading, HVAC and conduit bending. Before teaching, I supervised as foreman or general foreman residential, industrial and commercial construction for 25 years.
- Political party affilitation: Independent
- Previous elected offices: Trustee, Orland fire Protection District, 2005- 2011; Commissioner, 911 Board, Village of Orland Park, 2006- 2011; Commissioner, Telecommunication Advisory Board, Village of Orland Park, 1998- 2011
- Applicable experience: Liaison, Construction Project/Oversight for the New Training Center; Liaison, Expansion-Remodel of Administration Offices; Liaison, Pension Board for Local 2754 OFPD
Mr. Cacciato answered an issues-specific questionnaire as well, which can be read through this link.
Candidate Questions
What is the primary reason you are running for this office?
As an elected member of the Orland Fire Protection District (OFPD) for the past six years, I have worked with my colleagues on the board to implement a number of changes which have benefited the district. For example, the district’s Insurance Service Office (ISO) class 2 rating for fire protection now elevates us to the top 3 percent of the best fire departments in the United States. We have balanced each budget and still returned $4 million in surplus funds back to the taxpayers where they belong.
What will be your single most important priority if you get elected?
I am going to continue what I’ve done since I’ve taken office, and that is keep everyone accountable, be transparent and maintain a high level of service. We keep trying to reduce costs, which we have been able to do. We work to make sure we are operating in the most efficient way. Ideas need to be proven so if a cost is incurred, it will pay dividends back to the citizens. There used to be no accountability, and since then we’ve set limits on credit spending. We’ve abated money back. We want to maintain the highest level of service we can.
What sets you apart from the other candidates?
I am a 25-year resident of Orland Park and have actively participated in local government and in doing so have always made every effort to promote transparent and access to the residents we represent. I continue to serve as a commissioner on the 911 Board and the Telecommunication Advisory Board for Orland Park. As a trustee for the OPFD, my tenure has been dedicated in large part to making the OFPD a leader among first response departments.
What's your favorite thing about Orland Park?
It’s the greatest place in the world to raise a family. When I moved here with my almost-grown children they wanted to move back to city, and now they’ve moved back to the village with their own kids. That’s a testament to how great it is to raise a family, between the amenities and sports, it’s an excellent place to live.
What is the biggest problem in Orland Park?
Traffic in town, especially around the holidays. Not being able to get into a good restaurant on Friday or Saturday night.
paul cervenka
6:19 pm on Sunday, March 6, 2011
Candidate Cacciato,
As an advocate for the taxpayers, reduce the cost of this fire district 25%. Increase revenue from sources other than homeowners. Outsource all administrative work. Reduce all spending to 2003 levels when Orland Park population stopped growing. Freeze all wages and increase the benefits cost contributions to the workforce. Focus on limits to spending. Union agreements are between the taxpayers and the membership. How about publishing the last agreement you worked on in full detail. I'd like to share this with my fellow taxpayers and show everyone how good a job you did for us. The spending will be answered for. Those responsible will account.
For the cost of one years OPFPD budget I could replace every home in my subdivision, annually ! 25 million for a 100 firefighter department is outrageous. You've done a very poor job. It was rewarding though, wasn't it?
Robert
9:53 am on Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Trustee Cacciato has brought our Fire dept. to what the tax paying public deserves. When a taxpayer need to call 911 they can rely on our force. One public official in another town use to criticize his Fire dept.'s spending and safety measure to no end, until he had to make an emergency call for one of his loved ones. He saw first hand the importance of everything entailed to keep a top notch dept. He no longer was a critic but a sound supporter. Paul Cervenka, with his secret insider information and numbers, is a mouth piece for someone with a hidden agenda. Psychology 101, hidden agenda's don't work Paul and whomever planted Paul.
Robert
10:44 am on Tuesday, March 15, 2011
What is Christopher Envoy's experience as a first responder, life saver, expert in medical and fire safety? Does he have any back r0und other than being born with a silver spoon in his mouth? What is his family bussiness, as Envoy is a "salesman".
He has been in O. Pk. for 5 years and MAIN PRIORITY IS TO CUT OUR FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES AND SAFETY. He says it himself:
My most important priority will be reducing taxes on the hardworking home and business owners within the O.P.F.D.
When I call 911 I count the seconds, time and professional training make all the difference in our lives and homes. In our neighboring town last month we waited 20 minutes on a very bad 911 call. There are many shotty underfunded fire departments. Envoy seems to want to make Orland Parks one of those.
paul cervenka
6:42 pm on Thursday, March 17, 2011
Robert, I'll be at the Village Hall meeting as usual on Monday night the 21st at 7pm. You can introduce yourself and we can discuss the information sources and mouth piece claim along with the hidden agenda then. I will gladly explain to you and anyone else in doubt, the last two years I've spent working on this subject. I won't be hard to find. I'm looking forward to your questions. I'll bring all my material just for you.
35 years ago we had a great fire department. The taxpayers just want it back. Were no safer today than we were then, just a lot poorer.
Mary
9:11 pm on Thursday, March 17, 2011
Um, the fire district was a ISO Class 2 long before Cacciato showed up.
The facts
4:44 pm on Sunday, March 20, 2011
Good for you Mr Cervenka. When you see Robert whom seems to be all over the place on so many different issues ask him a question for me? Who does Trustee Cacciato represent? Then maybe he can explain why his signs say paid for and backed by the firemans union. As a popular blogger in this town wrote sounds like a gigantic conflict of interest!!! I also checked and Mary is 100percent correct Mr Cacciato has lied about his accomplishments, it was ISO long before he was elected. Just the facts folks!!!!
Tomas
9:45 pm on Sunday, March 20, 2011
What I find interesting is that the Firemen's union is made up of trained professionals while the only source of support for the other two candidates is Liz Gorman. Is it true that her home is in foreclosure? Is it true that a judge ordered her to return money that did not belong to her? Now she wants to choose who is running the fire district.
This doctor that Gorman has running claims to make $1 million a year and work 100 hours a week. If true, when will he have time to be a trustee? Since these two and their comrades running for village trustee do not even have enough sense to change their campaign colors from Gorman's, we can expect that they will be taking their orders on the fire district from a failed car salesman