Meet Pete Ladesic: Glen Ellyn Village President Candidate

GLEN ELLYN, IL — Pete Ladesic is running for Glen Ellyn Village President in the 2021 Consolidated Election, which is April 6. Below, you'll find Ladesic's answers to the Patch candidate questionnaire.

If you are a candidate for the April election, and would like to answer our Patch candidate questionnaire, email lisa.farver@patch.com.

Pete Ladesic

Age (as of Election Day)

59

Town/City of Residence

Glen Ellyn, IL.

Office Sought

Village President

Party Affiliation (if a partisan race)

Independent candidate - Non partisan race

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My wife works for the DuPage Regional Office of Education

Education

St. Petronille Grade School, St. Francis High School, College of DuPage

Occupation

Home Builder and small business owner for over 34 years

Campaign website

www.voteladesic.com

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

I served as Village of Glen Ellyn Trustee for 12 years. During that time I sat on the following boards and commissions: Architectural Review Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, Historic Preservation Commission, Plan Commission, Environmental Commission, Liquor Commission, Glenbard Wastewater Commission, Recreation Commission, Capital Improvements Commission and Police Pension Board.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

At the moment the single most pressing issue facing our community is getting back on our feet after the impacts of COVID-19. The Village was able to operate successfully throughout the pandemic, and we were able to assist several of our local businesses, but we have to do a lot of work to get back up to speed as the virus subsides. Both for our businesses and for our residents.

Do you support Black Lives Matter and what are your thoughts on the demonstrations held since the death of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake?

I believe that Black lives matter. I firmly believe that all men are created equal and that we have been blessed with freedoms in our country like the right to free speech and the right to, peacefully, protest. Glen Ellyn held a peaceful demonstration last year around the unfortunate incidents of last summer.

Do you think the current board has done enough to support racial equality, and if not, what specifically should be done to do so?

I believe our village has done a good job with these matters and have codified this in village policy.

What are your thoughts on the national and local coronavirus response? Do you favor measures such as limiting operation of non-essential businesses and restricting indoor/outdoor dining? And do you favor a local mask mandate?

The coronavirus response has been a learning experience for everyone. While it is easy to look back and say we should have done this or that, the events of the past year could have been much worse if the steps that were taken nationally and locally did not happen. As our Village President I will continue to support keeping businesses open as best as possible utilizing best practices for health and safety. I will work with our local Public Health and Safety professionals including local businesses like DuPage Medical Group and local Pharmacies like CVS, Walgreens, Osco drug and Glen Ellyn Pharmacy to ensure that our residents have access to vaccines and other COVID-19 treatments as they are available.

What are your thoughts on the state and local coronavirus vaccine distribution, and how do you think local governments should work together to handle vaccine rollout?

I question the effectiveness of the states COVID vaccine roll out. I personally know of instances where vaccines went to waste and of people who used their influence to get vaccinated while our vulnerable population went without. I think the vaccines should have been better accounted for by the state. With inventory tracking and distribution systems used in the private sector we should know where each and every vaccine goes and utilize more effective ways of getting those vaccines to the most vulnerable sectors of our population who want them.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am an Independent candidate and the other candidate is running with an established political party.

I am a 54-year resident of Glen Ellyn and have dedicated over 32 years of volunteer civil service to our community, In addition I have far more experience than the other candidate in local governance based on my 20 years as a Police Reserve, my 3 years as a Village employee working in the Planning and Development Department and more recently as a village Trustee for 12 years.

I have demonstrated leadership by making decisions which benefitted the community as a whole and occasionally were unpopular with some. The other candidate put the wishes of his special interests ahead of the residents as a whole.

I have demonstrated the demeanor and strong leadership required of a leader to act in a respectful and civil fashion with other elected officials residents and staff. The other candidate has been disrespectful to other elected officials and staff and has tried to intimidate residents who disagreed with him.

I voted to eliminate any pay or benefits for local elected officials. The other candidate made a recommendation to pay himself a minimum of $24,000 per year.

The other candidate has obstructed several needed development projects which have already cost our community millions of dollars.

In my 32 years of civil service I have never had an ethics complaint filed against me. The other candidate has had ethics complaints filed against him.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

There is not an incumbent. The seat is currently held by an acting Village President who is not running for the open position.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Putting residents first. Holding our elected leaders and village administration accountable for how our residents tax dollars are spent. Supporting our business community. As a lifelong resident of Glen Ellyn I was able to see Glen Ellyn in its prime with businesses thriving in our three business districts. There were rarely store vacancies and businesses would wait in line for the next vacancy.

As our business districts declined the Village had to rely more on property taxes and service fees to residents. In order to make Glen Ellyn financially sustainable we need to question the Return On Investment of every one of our residents hard earned tax dollars spent. We need to treat our residents tax dollars as if they were coming out of our own pockets

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Nothing speaks louder to show that I can handle the job than my actual experience in the positions I have held in our community. I have served and protected our residents as a police officer. I have facilitated the needs of our residents as a plan examiner and building inspector.

As a Village Trustee I have brought forth and implemented many creative more cost-effective ways of running our Village. I have been instrumental in initiating and completing several beneficial public projects. I have consistently opposed property tax increases and unnecessary spending and have welcomed dozens of new businesses to our community.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?

Keeping a balanced budget each year. Putting policies in place which would promote a sustainable future for our Village. Building our business community to lessen our reliance on property taxes. Keeping our fire department volunteer. Having taken the next steps towards a vehicle underpass in our central business district.

Why should voters trust you?

I have demonstrated my trustworthiness by my actions in my 32 years in civil service. I listen to our residents. I challenge our staffs assumptions and positions on matters involving the expenditure of public dollars. I seek cost-effective alternatives to antiquated methods. I have provided transparency in my decision-making.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the use of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

I am a deficit hawk. I have and will continue to support lessening exorbitant property taxes for our residents. I will push to increase business development which would lessen the property tax burden on our residents for the Villages portion of our tax bills. This would not only make it more affordable to live here, but this would benefit all of our other taxing bodies so that they can lessen the property tax burden on our residents.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

No, I look forward to serving as Village President and appreciate your vote.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Learn to say Please, Thank you and I’m sorry.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I have lived my life helping people. I help people every day in my business realizing that together we help each other achieve our respective goals. I drive a truck and get my hands dirty when necessary. I respect people who have a good work ethic and pitch in when help is needed. If entrusted with others property I take care of it as if it were my own. I have always put the best interests of our residents first and will continue to do that in my service as Village President and I ask for your vote.