Presidential elections get all the glamor, but local elections--for your village, schools, park districts and more--affect your property taxes, whether your snow gets cleared and whether your street floods more than do Washington elections.
Patch.com is presenting the candidate questionnaires of candidates running in the Niles election. Today you can see that of Andrew Przybylo; scroll way down to see previous Patch.com articles about him.
Name: Andrew Przybylo
Age: 61
How long have you lived in Niles? 30
Family: Wife and two children
Education: Bachleors Degree
Occupation: Food Service Business & Government
Previous Elected or Appointed Offices:
- Commissioner, Niles Zone & Plan Commission 87 to 89.
- Niles Village Truste, 89 to present.
- Commissioner of Cook County Housing Authority 94 to 02
Other community involvement: President, Polish American Association (formerly, Polish Welfare Association 80 to 84. Lions Club, Knights of Columbus, Sister Cities of Niles
Campaign E-mail address: nilesnewparty2013@yahoo.com
Campaign committee (names and contact info): Niles New Party
Campaign Website: www.nilesnewparty2013.com
Campaign Facebook:
Campaign Twitter:
1. Why are you running for this office?
Because I believe I am the most qualified having lived in Niles most of my adult life. Being a part of Niles government for 24 years, I know what the shortcomings of the Village are and also, the Villages' strengths. My longevity here makes me best qualified to understand the needs of the Niles residents.
2. What are the top issues facing the village of Niles right now, in your view?
Revitalizing our retail sector so that our property taxes may be the lowest possible. Niles government and the employees of the Village must all work together keeping in mind that all have unique talents and responsibilities.
3. How should the village be addressing these issues? Each Village Department should be held to specific Performance Management standards. The Trustees should each Chair one of the six Standing Committees of the Board.
4. What ideas do you have to improve the village, whether in services, economic development, transportation, outreach to residents, communication, environment or other areas?
We improve the Village by improving the desirability to live and make business in Niles. The residents should expect and have; the lowest property tax possible with the finest most efficient services. The business owner should expect to be in a partnership with his Village. Better Services, better economic development, better transportation, better outreach/communication, etc. are all Goals envisioned and set within the structure of Performance Management. For instance; The director of finance may have as a goal, less labor cost and a sub-goal being efficiency of bill collection. The initiative would be; on line bill payment. Finally, every quarter, the finance director would report as to his progress attaining his/her numeric goal.
5. What accomplishments, in public or community service or your professional life, would you like voters to know about? It is not my style to write about things that I've done that have made me some how special. I'm proud to say, simply, that I was born and raised in the food service industry. The emphasis being service and my parents taught me that I need to leave my community a better place for my actions.
6. Niles has a reputation as a thriving business community and it won the Best Affordable Place to Raise Kids honor from Bloomberg/Business Week. What do you envision for its future?
Much the same, only better. I am going to place a strong emphasis on our neighborhoods. Also, I want to enhance the Seniors / Teens co-operative service program, "working together--fulfilling the other's need." Regarding the business community, everyone in the Village employ should think of our business establishment as our partners. We must; complete our new Zoning Ordinance, continue to beautify Milwaukee Av. and bring back skunk/rodent control .
7. Niles is divided between two townships, two high school districts and multiple elementary school districts. It does not have a downtown or a high school. In light of this fractionalization, what can be done to give Niles a sense of unity?
Niles Pride, bring back the pride. We will have identifiable neighborhoods with block parties and the "welcome wagon." The two Townships and the multi faceted school districts are not relevant to the election, except to say that, I as Mayor will do everything possible to work with other governmental, schools or recreational agencies.
8. Anything else you would like to add?
Yes, I ask that the voter in this upcoming election look at the experience of the candidates in the Niles New Party 2013. You will find; experience of over 60 years in business, and a long list of our candidates' commitment to community service. We are individuals who are mindful of our Village history but committed to a New Niles, with very specific goals stated.
Previous articles about Andrew Przybylo
How To Deal With Power Outages? Niles Officials Float Ideas
Niles Niles Tax Increase at Golf Mill
Niles Rejects Przybylo Proposal for Pawn Shops
if that's the best you can do ! Please take your talent elsewhere!!
The news quoted him about term limits as saying "gifted incumbents" (Ahem! Him for example) might be replaced with "mediocre" people (Ugh! Us for example). I guess I will wait until after the election to learn whether or not I will have to grovel on bended knee, hat in hand, head lowered in submission, as he drives by inspecting Milwaukee Avenue, when I would then join the millions in shouting "All Hail, Andrew, King of Niles."
Now here's what many of us know, we know you sat on the back of the bus for 25 years while the previous two mayors you served under drove, we know that you never asked; "where are we going", we know you were very content just going along for the ride, we know that your business gained an advantage over others, we know you gained an advantage over others. Now you know that we the voters know of your long 25 year ride in the back of the bus and never saying a word and now you are asking us to move you to the drivers seat. We KNOW that would be a mistake. since You have no sense of direction.