Politics & Government

Election 2011: Village Board Candidate Jim Richmond

To get a more in-depth view of candidates, Mokena Patch asked them several issue-based questions.

Four candidates are vying for three seats on the . Newcomer  talked with us about his ideas for bringing new businesses to town, maintaining services and keeping the budget balanced.

What ideas do you have to spur economic development in Mokena?

If you look at the demographics of our area, we're a target-rich environment for business owners and developers. The fact that we're close to the interstate and Chicago should also be attractive to new businesses. If we create an environment that lets them know we're willing to work with them, it will help drive developers to our town, and that reputation will spread to even more developers.

Find out what's happening in Mokenawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

What ideas do you have for dealing with the village’s decreasing and stagnating fund balances?

There are really only two ways to deal with that problem: Increase revenues or decrease expenditures. The only way to increase revenue is to get businesses to develop and drive our sales tax revenues. Right now, we are landlocked, we don't have the acreage to build up and there is no demand from homeowners to buy bigger houses. 

Find out what's happening in Mokenawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

When it comes to budget cuts, what should be off-limits?

I look it in terms of the "nice-to-haves" and the "need-to-haves." "Need-to-haves" are things like police, electricity for the streetlights, road maintenance. Things that would keep the community safe and that would attract homeowners and businesses.

Where in the budget can the village cut deeper?

It goes back to the "nice-to-haves" and "need-to-haves." I'd like to burrow down in every department and have them justify every dollar in the department. If you look at the budget from the bottom up, it is easier to find waste and inefficiencies.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here