Oak Lawn Trustee Dist. 6: Joseph Sorrentino

Name: Joseph Sorrentino

Position sought: Trustee District #6

Campaign information:

Campaign contact information:

• Facebook:  https://facebook.com/sorrentinofortrustee.

• Email address: joe.sorrentino@qg.com
• Campaign phone (where residents/volunteers can contact you): 708-712-1746           

Personal Information:

• Age: 48

• Family: Wife Pam 25 years. 5 Children Amanda (24), Ashley (22), Joseph (19), Angela (17) and Alyssa (14). I also have one grandchild, David -15 months.
• Time living in Oak Lawn:41 years
• Education: BA in Business Administration – St. Xavier University
• Occupation: Owner/President – Third Party Logistics Company
• Political party affiliation, if any: NONE - INDEPENDENT
• Previous elected offices (if applicable): School District 123 Board of Education
• Applicable experience qualifying you for the position:

• Business - I have been a successful small business owner in the warehousing and transportation industry for 15 years.  I understand the importance of thorough planning and timely execution.  I understand what it takes to make informed, tough decisions and I am not afraid to make them. This includes:

• Formulating a solid business plan which includes calculated growth, future challenges and opportunities
• Managing budgets and successful long term investments
• Building teams of quality people that respect teamwork
• Seeking business relationships with trustworthy and ethical people

• Municipal Board Experience -- I am currently President of Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123 Board of Education.  District 123 is the largest school district in Oak Lawn and has over 3000 elementary school students in 6 different school buildings.  My role as school board president has many responsibilities and experiences which are directly applicable to the role of village trustee.  Many significant achievements have occurred in the last six years and I am proud to have played a part in the leadership during this period:   

• Maintaining a positive, respectful and productive environment on a board,  while making tough decisions
• Establishing a strategic plan insuring fiscal responsibility to all of our taxpayer stakeholders
• Publishing a plan with a clearly defined timetable to achieve a balanced budget during challenging economic times
• Dealing with the tough decisions relative to residency issues, litigation, contract negotiations, discipline, and  staff employment
• Emphasizing civic responsibility through programs such as Senior Leaf Raking Day, Senior Snow Shoveling, Make a Wish Foundation and Veteran’s Day Appreciation Assembly

Candidate Questions

Use as much space as you need:

1.    What is the primary reason you are running for this office?

Oak Lawn is a great place to live and raise a family.  I love this community, believe I have made sincere contributions, have deep roots here and plan to continue long into the future.

I am running for office because it is clear that our village government is broken and needs immediate attention.  We are at a critical stage of unrest. I am certain I can lend insight and expertise to getting our village back on track to becoming a suburban leader rather than a community known for its divisive political battles. 

I have a proven track record of civil board governance and fostering healthy debate.  I have acquired a great deal of knowledge, not only serving as Board President, but also through ongoing training I have completed focusing on creating a productive board environment.

I believe this focus and experience is what our board needs right now as much as any other characteristic.  I realize that this is a change in approach and will take some time, but I truly feel it is the right time to act in the best interest of Oak Lawn.

2.  Why do you deserve to be elected/reelected? What sets you apart from the other candidate(s)?

Applying my business experience, I know the importance of acting fiscally responsible.  I do not want the residents to pay increased property taxes, and I have been educated and trained in ways to adopt solid policies and procedures to insure residents tax dollars are always protected.  I know how to avoid senseless litigation and potential investigations, where costs are eventually passed down to the tax payers.

I also feel my service as Board President of the largest School District in Oak Lawn and my 15 plus years of owning successful businesses, can certainly add value when it comes to making tough decisions, formulating solid business plans and insisting on transparent communication to our residents.

I chose to run as an independent because it is truly the only way to be the solution and not more of the same problem.  I want to make a statement to the public that a truly independent perspective can foster growth, new ideology and civility.  We can no longer allow our village government to be controlled by the number of votes one party has over the other. 

Clearly both of the other candidates are affiliated with one of the two political groups which have been battling on the board for the last four years: Sheahan-Heilmann and Carberry-Bury.  I am the only true independent regardless of the erroneous literature distributed. I think it is important for the citizens of Oak Lawn to be represented by a trustee who has the best interest of the community in mind, not the influences of a political party. 

In summary I am the ONLY candidate that has the three requirements for success:

ü  I am the ONLY true independent and won’t be controlled by party vote (other candidates are allied with Heilmann and Bury)

ü  I have the board knowledge to achieve a positive change

ü  I have the business experience to ensure financial progress          

3.    What are the three issues in the village that you feel need to be addressed right away? Why are these issues important?

1)    Village Board Governance: Investigations and Litigation

I would propose three important steps:

• Perform an immediate high level stop-gap policy and procedure review and enforcement relative to conducting board meetings and vetting of all significant contracts.  On board proceedings, sadly we need a period of strict enforcement of Robert’s Rules of Order for board members and audience members. 
• Formalize or re-validate the duties, responsibilities and limitations applicable to each board position and executive staff position.  It appears that the shear majority of litigious occurrences are a result of board members or staff either exceeding or failing their proper responsibilities.
• Institute immediate and mandatory training for the entire board covering integrity in governance, Robert’s Rules of Order and conflict resolution, no exceptions.  This can be a very focused and purposeful series of workshops completed over a 2-3 month period, no longer.  It should include a personal commitment by each board member on each aspect.  It is sad to think this is necessary however if not, the “new” board will soon take on the trappings of the old board and WE CAN NO LONGER ACCEPT THIS AS RESIDENTS!

2)    Public Safety

Public safety assessment and enhancement must also be a priority.  Recent town hall meetings have only scratched the surface to create better awareness and emphasize resident involvement as a strong deterrent.

The mayor has called for resident volunteers to share thoughts on safety and a few small watchdog groups are forming in a few districts.  The Emergency Communications Department is trying to increase general awareness as well as registration in the Everbridge system. 

I would propose a Village of Oak Lawn Safety and Awareness Committee fashioned after the Planning and Development Committee.  This would be a resident group and in that regard would be advisory only, however recognized as the first line to raising awareness and creating discussion around safety issues.  The initial charge of this group could be twofold:

• Identify a select few items of highest return and importance i.e. low hanging fruit.  Act as a catalyst to mobilize the entire community to embrace those initial steps.
• Draft a framework for a comprehensive public safety and awareness plan so that all the pieces are better coordinated.  

3)    Economic Development

We are all still faced with difficult economic conditions both nationally and locally. It is important that we dedicate our attention to our major economic development—the Stony Creek Mall on 111th—to ensure we are not faced with the financial dilemmas which we have experienced with Home Depot and Target developments as well as more profoundly lately with the Advocate Christ Medical expansion.    

We cannot be chasing issues on that development the way we are right now on Advocate.  It is amazing to think that a $600 million dollar expansion—could be mishandled so massively.  The political posturing of the board has accrued so much negative sentiment that it has deteriorated to the point of creating a continental divide in the community.  In fact, it has become a key political issue in the current election.

We need to immediately extricate board members from meddling in projects and giving the perception that they are assuming responsibilities, which should be managed and controlled by staff.  (Refer to the earlier proposal to re-establish roles and responsibilities) 

I would focus right now on fully vetting the Stony Creek Project to insure that all reasonable issues and concerns are addressed as well as having a better handle on the budgetary impact before the structures are built—a novel approach given our history.  I would also suggest a more comprehensive analysis so the same types of embarrassing misses which have occurred on the Advocate project don’t occur again. 

4.    Give one example of how you would work with an adversarial village board?

I am so glad you have asked this insightful question and especially in the sequence you have.  I would state emphatically that any candidate who did not already identify this very issue as one of the main issues does not have a big picture perspective on our core problem in this village.

Respectfully I will present here what has already been presented as one of my core issues: 

I would propose three important steps outlined in question #2.

There are very few (if any) reasons boards need to be adversarial.  Healthy debate should not be confused with adversarial debates. It is obvious that there is a lack of respect on the current board, which in itself causes adversary and defensive posturing during the existing meetings.  I think it is important to give my colleagues the respect to their individual opinions, while at the same time sharing my opinions and expecting the same respect.

The keys to a successful and productive board begin with education (enforcement in this case) followed by a personal commitment by each board member to following the rules agreed upon.

Party posturing is a main cause of adversarial relationships.

I think the residents of Oak Lawn could play an active role on April 9th. The residents can make a conscious choice to elect an independent candidate who will not align themselves with a political party. 

5.    Should Advocate Christ Medical Center be required to pay impact fees and permit fees for future expansion? Why or why not?

The short answer is yes.  There are certainly additional hard costs for police and fire department support as well as sewage and other infrastructure necessities.  There are other indirect costs for added traffic and the complexity of the project and imposition on our village staff.  Advocate needs to cover these added costs at a minimum.

While I do feel this is an important question to be asked, it appears as if we are asking the question too late.  Substantial phases of the overall project have been completed, however the chronic fighting on the board between the two major political groups has left us downstream on the project without any definite understanding of what that contribution will be.  Yes, Advocate was recently taken off the building permit exemption, however estimates of the final amounts are so sketchy they have not even been included in the formal village budget.  This was a 600 million dollar expansion!  It should have received the utmost attention by the full board to vet properly and to avoid all the ill sentiment, which has occurred as a result of being focused more on self-serving politics. 

To be fair to Advocate, these costs should have been presented and agreed upon earlier to give them the opportunity to analyze the cost, plug it into their model, and compromise in good faith with the village to serve the best interest of all parties.  Good partners work to protect each other’s best interests!  We are an excellent community.  Advocate is a world class partner.  How did this get so botched up?

Now, let’s address the bigger picture!

Key elements of my 7 step action plan is to ensure all major projects—including the remaining phases of Advocate, are fully reviewed.  I question whether this has been done with the 111th street development especially since it is being approved one phase at a time EXACTLY as Advocate has been AND during the period that the board was infighting on just about every other issue.  Did we not learn our lessons on the Advocate expansion to review as much of the totality of the project upfront rather than “winging it” a “phase” at a time??

6.    Should there be a cap on video gaming licenses granted to new businesses coming to Oak Lawn? Why or why not?

I absolutely believe that there should be a cap put on the gaming licenses granted to new businesses coming to Oak Lawn; we don’t want to be the “strip” of gambling cafes.  Obviously we’d rather have a more conventional business which would bring in similar revenue.  However, we also have an ethical dilemma.  In general gambling has negative social implications because if taken to extreme can lead to addictive behavior.  At the same time, we do have significant lottery sales and a number of residents and established businesses that encouraged this in the first place; we as a free society we must be cautious of mandating ethics specifically through legislation. 

Because we employ “home rule” as a village we have a number of different options to control the number of video gaming establishments.  You must have a liquor license from the village first before you apply for a gaming license.  Because we are always at our limit of liquor licenses, each new potential gaming license is voted on by the board.

I would propose a moratorium on potential new gaming licenses until we have some real experience on the socio-economic impact.  At this point let’s see what actual experience we have before we move forward.

7.    What do you like best about Oak Lawn?

I have lived in Oak Lawn almost my entire life.  My wife and I were raised in Oak Lawn and we are raising our family in Oak Lawn.  My oldest daughter and her family are living in Oak Lawn.  This seems to be a common theme in a number of Oak Lawn families, where generation after generation, continue to stay in Oak Lawn, as many of the friends I grew up with are raising their families in Oak Lawn. 

What I like best about Oak Lawn is all the relationships and friendships I have built over the years. I feel we have one of the best education systems, both public and private, and I am honored to serve over 3,000 children and their families in our schools. I have met so many education professionals who care for our children as if they were their own.  I am also honored to have met and served many of our seniors including our Veterans.  I hope the youth of our village will look to the many fine adults in this community as role models, and continue our tradition of multi-generation dwelling.