WAUCONDA – Two independent candidates are running for the position of Wauconda in the April 7 election.
Thomas Larkin, a retired Wauconda police officer, said he was tired of the village's fiscal irresponsibility and wanted to straighten the budget out.
"I got tired of listening to this stuff, I got tired of referendum after referendum," he said. "We go from going in the black to being in the red. I just got really tired of the overexpenditures – fiscal irresponsibility, basically."
Traffic concerns also were a top priority for Larkin, including the newly installed cameras set up at the intersection of Route 176 and Main Street.
"One of my big issues is the cameras and the administrative system they're trying to set up," Larkin said. "It's borderline illegal, unconstitutional, that you're not going to to get a day in court about this ... if you do something wrong. Let's say you dropped your car off to have work done, and the guy takes the car out and blows a stop sign. You get the ticket no matter what. It's a multi-headed dragon, and it's a mess."
The 61-year-old also believes Bangs Lake should be utilized more. A lake committee is needed to help keep the lake environmentally friendly, he said, and safety measures need to be taken, such as lowering speed limits and limiting the size of boats allowed on the water.
Mayoral candidate Roger Wojcicki, a project manager, said government transparency was important, and the village needed to start broadcasting its meetings to stay with the times.
Business development also is key, Wojcicki said.
"We need to bring in more revenue-producing businesses so that we can keep our taxes low and still provide core services to our community: safe roads, police and fire protection, water and sewer," he said.
He said his background includes negotiating, and he would offer credits and reduce impact fees to get businesses to come to Wauconda.
"Wauconda has a problem enticing business to come to Wacuonda," he said. "We are landlocked because of the forest preserve; we only have one direction to go basically, and that's north, and we are in stiff competition with Lake Zurich. I would personally involve myself in the negotiation process to try to lure businesses to Wauconda."
He also pointed to the village's water rates as an area for change. Residents currently are charged for the amount of water they use, as well as a sewer line item, which is based on the total amount of water they use, regardless if that water actually reaches the sewer, Wojcicki said.
"When you water your grass and flowers, that has nothing to do with the sewer, [but] you're still charged the sewer portion, which I think is unfair," he said. "I want to give people a credit for water that is not used for sewer services."
Incumbent Mayor Sal Saccomanno is running for re-election with his slate, Wauconda First. Visit www.waucondafirst.com.
Mayoral candidate Mark Kniggee also is running for mayor with a slate, Wauconda United. Visit www.waucondaunited.com.
Candidates on slates
For those who thought the Nov. 4 election meant the end of campaigns, platforms and voting, think again.
Just days after the presidential contest was decided, two groups stepped forward publicly to run separate slates for the April 7 municipal election. The mayor, village clerk and three trustee positions on the Wauconda Village Board – each a four-year term – will be up for election.
Wauconda United, led by mayoral candidate Mark Knigge, will face off against Wauconda First, led by incumbent Mayor Salvatore Saccomanno.
Knigge, who ran on the same slate with Saccomanno last time, said the two had developed fundamental differences on how the village should proceed.
"One of the big differences is long-range and strategic planning," Knigge said. "That's one thing we've tried to implement in the last four years, and it really hasn't been implemented. And I think that's a key on how we want to move our village forward."
John Barbini, a former Wauconda School District 118 superintendent who is running for a trustee position with Wauconda United, agreed.
"I think the biggest difference is more in the method and approach toward village government," he said. "The Wauconda United approach is more of a proactive approach based around long-term planning, annual goals."
"The other piece of it is a commitment to regular communication with our constituents," he continued. "And I'm not talking about just a Web site or a village newsletter. One of the things we think the community needs is community forums on specific topics, be it the water-rate increases, long-range planning, you name it, obtaining Michigan lake water. [We need to] work more closely with our citizens and identify their needs more readily."
Actively using citizen input can help push forward economic development, as well, Knigge said – one of Waucond United's main goals.
"I'd really like to have a kitchen cabinet – people I can turn to, not only staff, but village residents – for input, ideas, different ways they would like to see our community move forward," Knigge said. "With that talent base, combined with our staff, we can really make some great strides."
Wauconda United's slogan – "Today, Tomorrow, Together" – captures the essence of the group's vision, Barbini said.
"Today means we'd like to use the strengths that exist here in Wauconda today, to build for a long range vision of tomorrow, and the way you do that is work together with the community to really identify and capitalize our strengths," he said.
Continuing work
Wauconda First has a more open platform, Saccomanno said, as the group is looking to develop it's plan by asking community members for their input.
Initial responses included concern over economic development and residential growth, two things Saccomanno said he and his staff have been working on diligently.
Nearly six months ago, the administration approved a $60,000 survey to determine the types of businesses that would be a good fit for the village based on population, traffic flow, income and other factors.
It's the first step toward driving newer businesses into the Wauconda area, Saccomanno said.
Incumbent trustee candidate Cathy Scott said the administration's work will pay off soon.
"Under Sal's leadership, the past four years have been a building process of our economic development department," she said in an e-mail. "Contacts have been established and because of these relationships, many commercial real estate agents and national retailers know Wauconda. Many like Wauconda. When the economy turns around, I believe we have all the pieces in place now to attract more retail, commercial and industrial businesses."
Wauconda First also plans to continue to offer reliable services to the 12,614 residents of Wauconda, while maintaining environmentally friendly programs.
"We offer the best services to our residents, things people depend on," Saccomanno said. "Leaf pick up, regularly low garbage rates, public works, our billing and zoning department – we'll keep those available. [And] every time there's a time to be more environmentally friendly in Wauconda, we will take that opportunity."
Village communication has steadily improved, Saccomanno said, with the introduction of a village e-mail update system, in which more than 1,000 residents receive instant notification of village news. The village Web site was also recently updated.
On a more personal level, Saccomanno personally keeps in touch with residents.
"Since I've been in office, I've been sent – and responded to – 2,000 residential e-mails," he said.
Scott noted the village has used Connect-CTY since 2006, a national notification service company that calls residents when problems arise.
"If the water's going to be shut down in certain part of the village, a phone call goes out to every person who is going to be affected," she said.
She also pointed to the 331 ordinances the current administration has passed since 2005 as proof that the administration has listened to concerns and acted upon them.
Because the election is a nonpartisan election, voters do not have to vote for a slate; they can vote for individual members from both groups.
At a glance ...
Wauconda slates for the April 7 election:
Wauconda First
Mayoral candidate: Salvatore Saccomanno (incumbent)
Village clerk candidate: Linda Lochmayer (incumbent)
Trustee candidates: Cathy Scott (incumbent), Mark Kwasigroch, Danielle Zimmermann
For more information: Visit www.waucondafirst.com
Wauconda United
Mayoral candidate: Mark Knigge (current trustee)
Village clerk candidate: Ginger Irwin
Trustee candidates: John Barbini, Lincoln Knight (incumbent), Pal Wahl
For more information: Visit www.waucondaunited.com