Meet Your Candidates: Tony Kalogerakos, Running for Morton Grove Trustee

Do you know which types of decisions your local village board makes? It's power over your property tax bill, the services you get and other important matters, such as whether your home floods, tends to affect you more than what Washington politicians do. 

So learn about local candidates and vote on April 9.

Tony Kalogerakos is running unopposed on the Action Party ticket for Morton Grove trustee. Here is his candidate questionnaire. 

Name:         Tony S. Kalogerakos

Age:                  33 years old

How long have you lived in Morton Grove?         7 years

Family: Recently married 10/27/12

Education:          J.D.

Occupation: Illinois Injury Lawyer

Previous Elected or Appointed Offices (please include years of service):          2009-2013         Village Clerk of Morton Grove

Other community involvement:         Legal Liaison to Village of Morton;  Grove; Morton Grove Days volunteer; Morton Grove Chamber of Commerce Member; Member of Action Party of Morton Grove;

Campaign E-mail address (for publication):         tsk@injuryrights.com

Campaign committee (names and contact info):         Action Party of Morton Grove
Campaign Website:         www.actionparty.org
 

1. Why are you running for this office?         

A: Because Morton Grove has to grow! It’s been sitting around, while surrounding towns are attracting and building wonderful malls, restaurants, etc.

Being the youngest board member, and youngest member on the slate, I want to bring fresh ideas and a proactive leadership style to meet the existing and future challenges that Morton Grove will face in the upcoming years.

2. What is your assessment of Morton Grove's condition right now?

A:         We live in a wonderful town. Hence why we’ve been named best town to raise a family the last couple years. It’s great, but we can always improve. Afterall, we never want to be stagnant.

3. What does Morton Grove need to address? How should it address this issue or issues?        

The ghost town on Dempster Avenue!!!! We need new businesses! In addition to bringing in new businesses, we need to keep the existing business owners happy. Afterall, they need to work next to these empty storefronts, etc. I want to window shop! I want to eat in Morton Grove! I want to shop in Morton Grove!

4. Most of the candidates have said that if elected, they will focus on economic development for Morton Grove. What does this mean to you?

A:         Refer to my answer in question 3.  The old saying is…we have to crawl before we walk….well we’ve been crawling some time now….we need to start runnnnnnniiiiinnnnggggg!

5. Please give specifics about what you would do to bring more business into Morton Grove, and retain business already here, to strengthen the tax base. 

A:         First off, I want to work closely with our new Economic Developer. This way, we’re all on the same page. Moreover, I need an understanding of everyone’s plan, especially on the strategy involved with attracting new businesses’. Rather than throwing out 100 ideas, and seeing what sticks, I say we take one idea, work on it, accomplish it, and  move on to the next. BUT, faster, and in a much more efficient manner.

8. Anything else you would like to add?   

  I love our Village. 

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