Campaign Info

• Position sought: Village of Orland Park Trustee
• Website: http://www.stevenwilliams.org/  http://www.fiscalvoices.com/
• E-mail address: info@stevenwilliams.org
• Phone: (No answer provided)
• Hometown: Orland Park

Personal Info

• Age: 45
  
• Family: Andrea (wife), Jackson (son) 6.
• Education: MBA, Northwestern University (Kellogg School of Management); BBA, University of Memphis.
• Occupation: Director, IT Business Management Office, CNA Insurance.
• Political party affiliation: Republican, Fiscal Voices Of Orland
• Previous elected offices: None
• Applicable experience qualifying you for the position:  I have many years of experience planning and managing large budgets to deliver desired outcomes in challenging circumstances. My experience also includes a record of creative approaches in reengineering processes to make them more efficient leading to millions of dollars in savings for my employers. The experience I have working with senior business leaders in large corporations will enable me to accomplish my goal of bringing substantive jobs to the village. I will bring the same work ethic and results to the village through an independent but collaborative approach.

Mr. Williams 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?

The incumbent trustees running for re-election refuse to acknowledge the current economic situation most citizens are in. This is evidenced by the 2010 budget exceeding projected revenues by approximately $17 million and the 2011 budget exceeding projected revenues by approximately $10 million. To sustain their spending they have broken the promise of rebating property taxes and continued to raise fees on residents and visitors. This is an unsustainable strategy that the citizens have an opportunity to correct with this election.

What will be your single most important priority if you get elected?

A strategy to make Orland Park more attractive to substantive jobs like those that come with corporate headquarters or significant business units. This will include reducing spending to reign in taxes, holding staff and board accountable to demonstrate benefits on discretionary spending, implementing a “You Cut” type program to increase engagement of citizens and businesses, creative approaches to property tax relief for businesses. This strategy will diversify the tax base, mitigate the revenue fluctuations inherent in the retail approach to funding, reduce the cycle of capital investment in infrastructure, and create community by enabling citizens to live and work in their hometown.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

The Fiscal Voices For Orland is a comprehensive approach to the tax burden on the residents of Orland Park. By running candidates for trustee and Fire Protection District, we can take a collaborative approach to solving this important issue. Additionally, the Fiscal Voices For Orland candidates are all business professionals who know how to operate within their means unlike attorneys who rarely have to operate a business.

How long have you lived in Orland Park?

We built our house in Orland Park in 2006.

What's your favorite thing about Orland Park?

The park district is really nice. They offer a broad range of activities to suit most interests. I am concerned about the ongoing operating costs of the fixed assets they’ve put in place (Sportsplex and Waterpark) considering the economic cycle we are experiencing. When you invest in those types of fixed assets, it can be difficult to flex those operating costs and maintain a viable facility. 

What is the biggest problem in Orland Park?

As a community leader, the most important thing you can do is listen to people in the community. I don’t believe that sort of public engagement is happening effectively. You can see it in how information is provided. For example, the 2011 budget was presented to citizens in what looked like a dump from the financial systems, which takes a financial professional to understand.  Likewise, the way the board treated those parents challenging Kris Rau’s firing wasn’t exemplary of listening to constituents.