Palatine Township Highway Commissioner Candidate: Tom Kaider
Newcomer Tom Kaider is running for Palatine Township Highway Commissioner. He is one of two candidates running for the seat in the special primary election to be held February 26, 2013.
Palatine Patch will be helping you get to know the candidates for the upcoming special primary for Palatine Township. Meet Palatine Township Highway Commissioner Candidate, Tom Kaider, who will be running against incumbent John Powers.
1) Name, office being sought, professional background, community affiliations, experiences that you feel qualify you to run for this office.
I grew up working in the road construction industry, and I am very, very good at maximizing value-for-the dollar in regard to budgeting, contracts, etc. I am a lifelong Palatine resident, heavily involved with multiple civic organizations and local government. I will be honored to bring an honest, transparent effort.
2) How long have you been a Palatine Township resident? 36 years
3) What are the reasons you chose to run for office? (for the upcoming election).
There has not been a change in this office in 16 years. I feel that is not healthy for the Township. I am a true fiscal conservative; refusing the pension, and I'd like to:
• Reduce or freeze salaries so they are more comparable with those in other local municipalities.
• Spend money more wisely by focusing on priority projects. Just because we have the money doesn’t mean we must spend it… that money should be saved to cover future emergency expenses.
4) List 2-3 top issues-and how you plan to address them-that you believe are important to residents living in Palatine Township.
• Spend Your Money Efficiently and Responsibly
• Develop a Strategic Plan and Involve Public Input
• Ensure All Taxpayers Are Benefiting from Township Services
5) What improvements, if any, would you like to see in the way that Palatine Township is run?
• Officials should accomplish their responsibilities in less than 20 hours a week to avoid IMRF and save the taxpayers money, or decline IMRF outright.
• Develop and publicize a short-term and long-term plan for all departments.
• Freeze the levy until increases are properly justified. The levy has been increased every year but this year (an election year), accumulating nearly two and a half times the annual expenses.
6) Additional comments.
As a TEAM, we can function at a level which far exceeds the standard. The Doing Things Better for Palatine Township slate is running to institute commonsense reforms and innovations in order to make Palatine Township government more efficient, transparent, and accountable to the people they serve. On the web: www.betterforpalatinetownship.com www.facebook.com/BetterForPalatineTownship.
7) Biographical information, family, children, upbringing, religious beliefs, etc. (optional).
I was born and raised in Palatine Township and attended its schools and programs, as did many of my siblings and cousins from our large family. I grew up riding my bike along every bike trail and into every corner of the Township. When I owned my pavement construction business, I did some work on parking lots and roads in this area; so working our campaign trail has been a fun “walk” down memory lane as I remember the neighborhoods from my youth. I don’t consider myself a politician, but rather someone who cares deeply about the area and understands its history, what it needs, and where everything is. I spend much of my personal time growing my current company, which is in community management (property/real estate management). I also coach youth sports and spend as much time as I can with my family. As a current Palatine Zoning Board of Appeals member, I take the time to research areas and issues on which we will vote. Volunteering for local civic organizations is another serious passion of mine. My hobbies include: chess, poker, poetry, theology, coaching, writing, movies, philosophy, psychology, communication, business, politics, scuba-diving, hang-gliding, learning, volunteerism, and anything that makes me laugh!
John Powers
10:38 am on Friday, February 8, 2013
As a matter of fact I have reduced the Road and Bridge Levy 5 times since 1997 and froze it last year. In the last 3 years I have reduced the levy twice and froze it once. These are the actual facts of the matter.
John Powers
Highway Commissioner.
Sharon Langlotz-Johnson
10:02 am on Saturday, February 9, 2013
Unfortunately Mr. Powers does not reveal he pads his budget to the point of an extreme excess in reserves that allow him to give the impression he is saving the Township money. Last year he did not spend the over 1 million dollars slated to replace a bridge. That bridge replacement was halted by the residents of that area. The residents got a second opinion saying the bridge only needs repair and is of historical value. That said, Mr. Powers tell everyone he reduced the levy this passed year by $50,000. Where is the other almost million dollars??
Craig Doherty
7:34 am on Monday, February 11, 2013
Oddly enough Mrs. Langlotz-Johnson's comment seems to take a swipe at Mr. Powers for doing just what Mr. Kaider said is a good thing: having reserves. It also contradicts Tom's assertion that all the money is spent every year without regard for future needs. There's the TEAM attack/approach at work where the left hand hasn't figured out what the right hand is doing.
PITA
4:27 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013
YOU don't set the levy, it's set by the county according to the amount of property tax money requested.
Palatine Twp Road and Bridge tax levy rate was .061 in 2009, .070 in 2010 ( an 18% increase) and .O79 in 2011 ( a 13% increase); total of +51% in two years.
We will find out the rate on our 2nd installment 2012 bills this fall.
PITA
4:28 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013
Correction; The correct total increase is +31%.
PITA
4:35 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013
And we're talking about the R&B property tax levy RATE. It's up +31% in two years.
Chicago Food Guy
1:31 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
When you say you are going to reduce or freeze salaries, does that also mean you will put people out of work? Things are fine the way they are, we don't need this kind of "change". How many of your road construction partners will get contracts out of your position? Transparency is nice, but not to the point of hiding things we as citizens need to know.
Bill
9:32 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Things are not fine the way they are. Fleming and Powers are career politicians. How many kickbacks does a person like Powers have to get to feel the need to fight to remain in a civic duty position for decades? It's not a job. It's not supposed to be treated like a job. Career politicians like Fleming and Powers have destroyed our economy and bastardized the democratic process. They resist healthy turnover. It's pathetic to watch. And I hope whoever gets elected puts as many people out of work as necessary to bring some honesty back into the process instead of all of Powers' buddies continuing to siphon the system. Government isn't here to be a job-gift-basket for people. My tax dollars are my concern; not jobs. Job-creation is a federal concern or no concern at all. I don't need a job handed to me, and I don't need to pay to have one handed to someone else.
We don't need the same officials in there for TWENTY YEARS. Vote them out!
Dmitry Vidiakin
12:24 am on Monday, April 8, 2013
Go ahead and vote for Tom Kaider. It will be even worse- trust me! He can speak and write too sweet to by covering himself with sweet word - Democracy, but will not do anything for people - if you are not a friend. Where is the warranty that Tom will not make any kickbacks by managing Palatine's millions dollars. He dont know how to manage Baldwin Court Association Money. What he can bring to the Palatine Board?
Shawn
9:37 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
CHANGE IS GOOD
Eric
10:50 pm on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
http://palatine.patch.com/articles/palatine-township-primary-results-highway-commissioner
And the people have spoken.
Dmitry Vidiakin
11:24 pm on Sunday, April 7, 2013
Is this a Joke? Tom Kaider - Palatine Township Highway Commissioner Candidate:
Unfortunately as a President of Baldwin Court Condominium in Palatine IL for the last 3 years Tom Kaider was not able to make any valuable improvments in our condominium association. He made some" Great changes" - fired condominium maintenance team (and now nobody is doing anything), brought to us Managment company (without permission doing any improvment in condominium), increased montly assesment fees, never replaced old doors (they listed in budget for last three years - that is cheating of units owners - Where is the money going?), Leaking roofs, Old Windows, he hired so bad hallway cleaning service company - they are not cleans anything just coming time to time, makes some noise and leave the building. Yes he reduced expenses. But where is our money, where is improvements? For the last three years wasnt done any renovation projects. Our condominium under Tom's management is like Palatines Ghetto.
Any one can verify my words by visiting our Condominium Association by address 1321 N Baldwin Ct, Platine IL 60074.
He has disability and not able to visit second or third floor. So nobody controls condominium property above first floor.
And now If You still decide to vote for Tom Kider think twice.
Do You want a Paltine village as a Ghetto? Go ahead and vote for him!
PITA
2:57 am on Monday, April 8, 2013
Hey, the election is over.
Sounds like sour grapes to me.
PITA
2:59 am on Monday, April 8, 2013
Dimitri, go back and take a Local Government 101 class.