Julie Berkowicz For Naperville City Council: Patch Candidate Profile

Name: Julie Berkowicz

Age: 56

Position Sought: Naperville City Council

Family: Walter Berkowicz, Walter Berkowicz, III, Paul Berkowicz and Marc Berkowicz

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No

Education: Attended DePaul University

Occupation: Sales Professional at Soft Surroundings

Why are you running?

I am a candidate because I want to continue to contribute to my community and to ensure that Naperville continues to thrive. I am not a career politician but I have many skills and experience with all facets of the community including, youth, special needs, senior citizens and our Veterans. As a Councilwoman, I will represent the residents and taxpayers of Naperville with honesty and integrity. We need to bring back a healthy mix of all ages which includes families, young adults, Seniors and our Veterans. Unfortunately, most of our young adults go to college and never return to Naperville and then too often families become split.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office:

I am the Vice President of the Knoch Knolls Homeowners Association Board. As a Board member, some of the responsibilities I handle include our Architectural Reviews and grounds and landscaping requirements which often involve working with the Naperville Forestry department. I also help co-ordinate our two family social events: the Knoch Knolls Independence Day Parade and our Knoch Stock family picnic.

Campaign Website: JulieforNaperville.org

What do you hope to accomplish in office?

It is becoming difficult for residents and seniors to afford the rising costs in taxes and utilities and work for a decrease in spending and taxes. I will also protect property rights and will work to reduce the size of our government, eliminating waste and duplication in city government. Private developments in Naperville need to include housing that is priced for all segments of the community, including middle income residents and young adults. At this time, the average price for new housing units is $648,000. Unfortunately, that is out of reach for most people. Also, we need to address the shuttered properties on the Ogden corridor and in the north and south sides of Naperville. Many taxpayer dollars are invested in the downtown area, but attention is needed for the rest of the city. Our residents deserve safe and attractive neighborhoods. Another item that is important to me is that we adopt a Humane Ordinance. I believe that the health and safety of our community is a priority for our City Council and I will work passionately towards these principles.

How would you hold local government employees accountable?

Our government departments should have long term goals and reviews like a private business practice. The long term electric contract with the IMEA is choking our residents and commercial businesses. Residents are held captive and cannot purchase their electric and water from any other supplier. At the recent forum, most of the incumbent City Council candidates called the electric deal a mistake and said that there is nothing we can do about it. This is unacceptable and needs to be addressed. This mistake needs to be corrected, or else we will see a continued negative impact on economic growth and commercial markets AND our residents will continue to be priced out of our community because of these rising costs. If necessary, experts and advisors need to be consulted to correct this dire situation with our electric power plant deal. A recent report listed that Naperville power ranked 48 in affordability. 47 municipalities have less expensive electric costs than Naperville, which is the 5th largest city in Illinois!

Explain your attitudes toward fiscal policy, government spending and how taxpayer dollars should be handled by your office (or board)?

Naperville needs limited, smaller government and elimination of wasteful spending and duplication of services. Over regulation leads to an increase in staffing and government salaries and overtime costs need to be reduced and/or eliminated. Our unfunded pension benefit liabilities of $157 million (as of December, 2015) is a burden for the taxpayer and the city has a responsibility to reduce this debt. A defined contribution plan should be implemented for all new government employees. Boasting about a Triple A Bond rating just threatens to add more debt and adds weight to the shoulders of the residents and taxpayer.

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

My prior career in Investor Relations required respect and consideration for our investors. The residents and taxpayers are the investors that the City Council members represent. City Council actions should reflect the best interests of the residents and we should be open and responsive to their concerns and comments. I apply these same principles with our homeowners in our subdivision. Quite often, an Architectural Review will require mediation with multiple neighbors. The reward is to complete the project and meet the needs of the residents with respect and consideration. My long time civic experience and volunteerism with all segments of the community give me knowledge of the needs of our residents as a whole piece.

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

Julie and her husband Walter have lived in Naperville for 22 years and have three sons. All are Eagle Scouts and graduates of DePaul University and University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Their youngest son currently attends Indiana University in the Kelley School of Business and Hutton Honor College. Julie serves as Vice President on the Knoch Knolls Homeowners Association Board for over 16 years. For over 20 years she has been a leader in the Boy Scouts of America, served as Public Relations Community Liaison, she is a Distinguished Commissioner and a Special Needs Program Leader at the Ray Graham Association. She has served on many not-for-profit Boards, including St. Raphael Catholic School, the St. Raphael Band Boosters and co-chaired the St. Francis High School Band Parent Organization. Julie has experience in Senior Care and housing advocacy and has been a member on the Patient / Family Advisory Committee at Edward Hospital in Naperville. Julie is a Naperville Rotary International Member and a Life member of the Judd Kendall VFW Auxiliary. She is a member of 100+ Women Who Care and the Simbang Gabi Choir, West Cluster Chapter, Pamanang Lahi Foundation. Julie has been endorsed by NaperChange.org and the City Council Watchdog.

Photo provided by Julie Berkowicz