Tom Poynton: Lake Zurich Village President Candidate

Please provide a brief biography.

Thomas M. Poynton

980 Old Mill Grove Rd.

Lake Zurich, IL 60047

Email:  tomp527@sbcglobal.net

Phone: 847-438-7768

Website: http://poynton4lzmayor.wordpress.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TomPoyntonForLakeZurich

Twitter: @trusteetom

Candidate for Village President, Lake Zurich

I have lived in Lake Zurich for 28 years. I was born and raised in Buffalo, NY. and relocated here from Pittsburgh, PA. I reside in Countryside East subdivision where I am the subdivision representative. I am married to Jan and have a son Chris (LZHS 2005) and two daughters Tracie (Brisbane, Australia) and Kim (Buffalo, NY). I also have three grandchildren, Nathan Thomas, Morgan Rose and Olivia Rose.

I am a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo with a BS degree in Business Management. I have participated in “Elected Officials” training offered by various municipal attorneys including Holland & Knight and Ancel, Glink, as well as the Lake County Municipal League, Illinois Municipal League and Northwest Municipal Conference. I have attended Texas A&M Continuing Education seminars on: Public Information Officer, Senior Officials All-Hazards Seminar and a Mayoral Institute Seminar in order to better understand my role as a Trustee and to better serve the residents and businesses of Lake Zurich.

I am a member of St. Frances DeSales Parish, a Vietnam era Army veteran, and retired sales and marketing executive as well as a former small business owner.

I have been active in the community as a booster and volunteer – Sarah Adams School, Lake Zurich Middle School South and LZ High School, Lake Zurich Quarterback Club, and Ela Area and Lake Zurich High School Soccer Programs in addition to volunteering in Lake Zurich Parks, Kids Kingdom, 4th of July Picnic, Lion’s Alpine Days and the annual Lake Zurich Triathlon. I have worked with Smokin’T's Barbeque Restaurant to deliver Christmas dinners in support of Smokin’ T’s “Support Local Veterans and Their Families” program. I have assisted ELA Township at SWALCO sponsored electronics recycling events.

Currently, in my role as Trustee, I am a member of the Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee,  I am the village board representative on the Board of Directors of Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO), I am the Park and Recreation liaison and I am a member of the Downtown Development Committee.  In the recent past I have been chairman of the Village Board’s Public Safety Committee, as well as a member of the Board’s Finance Committee; liaison to the Building & Zoning Department; liaison to the Police Department; Finance Department liaison.  I am also a past member of Citizens and Police Advisory Committee (CPAC). Additionally, I was in the first class to complete the Lake Zurich Police Department’s Civilian Police Academy  and I am a member of the Lake Zurich Citizens Corps. I am an activist Trustee who has immersed myself in Village government and I will continue to do so as Village President.

Include how long you have lived in LZ

28 years

Why do you want to serve (or continue to serve) the village as a trustee Village President?                                                                                                                                      Why do I want to run for Village President?  Very simple - To make Lake Zurich a better, more desirable place to live, work, and visit. We live in a fantastic community. We have a wonderful park system, a terrific school district, a vibrant Rand Rd. retail corridor. But it needs more.  It needs activist leadership that will make things happen not just tag along for the ride. We need an activist Board of Trustees who will work in concert with a highly qualified and highly skilled professional staff. We need community involvement and better dialogue with residents and businesses. We need workable plans to move downtown forward. We cannot be satisfied with the status quo. We need leadership that will work to make those things happen. I take my role as a Trustee and my service to the community very serious. I have no personal NIMBY issues, I have no hidden agendas and I am passionate about making this a better community than it already is. I did not make the decision to run for Lake Zurich Village President quickly or in a vacuum. I gave it a lot of thought. I would not have made that decision if for one nano-second I thought the Village was in the best hands possible.

What are your top priorities for the Village of Lake Zurich?

I see five main goals for Lake Zurich’s Village Board and Staff to work towards in the next few years:

1. Providing the leadership lacking the past four years.
2. Increasing the emphasis on developing our downtown and increasing our economic vitality village-wide.
3. Increasing our solid financial base and working to provide an affordable and sustainable balanced budget.
4. Creating a government atmosphere that gives residents confidence, increases customer service and is consistent and predictable to both residents and businesses.
5. Increasing public participation in the processes.
6. Fine tuning the Recreation program to better represent and respond to residents’ needs and wants.

What needs to be done to create a solid financial base for the village?

We already have a “solid financial base”. We have a “solid” residential, business and sales tax base. Of course we have financial “issues”; most every community does and most every community these days is trying to solve for those issues. There are no magic bullets. To say that Lake Zurich needs to “create a sound financial base for the village” is to not understand basic fundamental municipal finances. Services can’t be provided without a “solid financial base”. The current Board of Trustees has done a good job in demanding and working toward a balanced and sustainable budget. The real question should be “How do we make a solid financial base better?”  The answer to that is to fine tune and expand that solid base with thoughtful well planned growth strategies and initiatives,  locate  sources of new revenue that don’t put or at least limit any additional burdens on residents and businesses and making the Village more accountable, responsive and more efficient.  It’s not the spouting of buzz words and the usual political rhetoric.   

What is your vision for downtown development?

I have a similar “vision” as most residents. I’d like to see a functioning, useful vibrant, downtown that provides the services, businesses and restaurants that people want.

We need to take some chances, speed up processes. Mistakes have been made but that doesn’t mean we haven’t seen any good ideas.

In case you haven’t noticed … developers haven’t been beating down our doors nor do I think we have done all we can to attract developers.  If you think it’s because we are difficult to work with … I disagree. Developers will come if we remove the impediments to their success.  They will come if they can make money. The Village Board cannot just snap its fingers and expect development to occur just because we are Lake Zurich.   We need to do things different but still keep things that work.              

I have a simple plan to move forward:

1. Create an Economic Development Commission
   1. charged with building a Village opportunity profile,
   2. maintaining a list of available retail inventory,
   3. identifying compatible businesses,
   4. working with the various Village departments in order to attract these businesses to Lake Zurich.
   5. This commission will be comprised of a cross section of Village residents, business owners, staff, and Trustees, all having no agenda other than serving the unified goal of improving the economic climate of Lake Zurich.
   6. I pledge to submit commission nominees to the Board within 30 days of this election.

1. Market the Village’s inventory of properties through a commercial realtor.
   1. Create an updated, simple to use Village webpage that would provide a list of available properties in the Village, costs, contacts, zoning information,
   2. Create simplified pathways to opening a business in Lake Zurich.
   3. Post rental/purchase information on every Village owned property.

1. Encourage dialogue with Village residents by use of a virtual suggestion box on our website.
   1. Have Boards and Commissions that will report to the entire Village Board (not just the task forces that report only to the Village President).
   2. Revise the public comment sessions at Village meetings, increase the amount of time allowed to speakers, and create an open door policy.
   3. Have elected officials and staff pay “courtesy visits” to local business and industry leaders to help identifying needs, perceptions, opportunities, and threats to our business partners, thereby enabling the Village to direct resources more effectively and improve the business climate.

1. Support the RFQ/RFP process strategy which is designed to identify qualified developers who will bring forward realistic, actionable opportunities.
   1. Streamline the RFQ/RFP process by shortening deadlines 
   2. Create a more user-friendly process for individuals attempting to bring business to Lake Zurich.

1. 5.    Promote a “Buy in Lake Zurich First!” campaign and create a page on the Village website
   1. That would consolidate by category, a comprehensive list of Lake Zurich retailers,
   2. And communicate to residents how local sales taxes support Village provided services.
   3. The goal of this campaign would be to get residents to make every effort to shop in Lake Zurich when they need a gift, a meal, or groceries.

How much time do you have available to devote to this role?                                The easy answer would be that I am willing to put in the time and effort that is required to do the job. Heck, I already do that and more. BUT, the jobs of Village President and Village Trustees are way more complicated than the “easy” answer. We need a mayor and trustees who can and will immerse themselves in the issues, understand them, do their homework, work with the community and work to solve problems and take advantage of opportunities. That takes way more time and effort than most people are willing to do. As they campaign they tell you that they are willing to put in the time and effort that is required to do the job but when they get into office it is the rare Village President and Village Trustee who can actually do it. I do it.  I have done it. I will continue to do it.

From 2007 Daily Herald endorsement: “For the third slot, though, we recommend Poynton, 60, a sales consultant who in recent years has deeply immersed himself in village issues and interviewed for an earlier board vacancy. He, we expect, would work assertively but constructively with those holding differing viewpoints.

From 2011 Daily Herald endorsement: We like the mix of experience and perspective incumbents Tom Poynton … bring to the table. They are endorsed. They favor use of multiple developers, instead of one master developer, and have ideas for the board to consider to adjust the plan to help jump-start the project. They also support using incentives to attract and retain business.

From the Daily Herald 3/7/2013:  “Poynton is a strong candidate …”

The Daily Herald was not wrong.

I have provided the “vigorous representation” for the residents of Lake Zurich  that I said would provide. I have “immersed“ myself into village issues even deeper than in the past. I have “worked assertively but constructively with those holding differing viewpoints.” I have provided Board leadership amongst my fellow Trustees. I have provided ideas and suggestions, many implemented.

I am open and available to residents and businesses.

I will provide the leadership from the Village President’s office that is currently lacking by communicating with ALL the trustees not just the ones who agree with me.

What traits do you have that make you a good leader for the village?

I believe that my leadership, experience and community involvement as well as my focus, energy, open mindedness and willingness to do the necessary due diligence, makes me the best and most viable candidate. I have the courage to take on the challenge. I have always been willing to take control and be responsive to and responsible for all of Lake Zurich.

As Village President MY administration will be proactive not reactive. It will be inclusive and not exclusive.  I work to get things done.  I don’t wait and hope for things to happen. My opinions are rooted in common sense and the pragmatic application of the residents will. I will lead with informed and learned knowledge.  I will not blindly follow and hope for the best. You will know what my position and opinion is because I will express it with my statements and I will seek to give you an answer to every question.

If you chose me and if that doesn’t happen … you can vote me out in 2017.