Campaign info

• Position sought: Will County Board District 12 representative
• Party: Republican
• E-mail address: tomweigel@att.net
• Phone: 815-722-0881
• Address: 2730 Gifford Place, New Lenox, IL 60451

Personal info

• Age: 68
  
• Family: Married to wife Nancy for 40+ years, a son, Matthew, and one 3-year-old grandson, Austin.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in science from Northern Illinois University. Majored in Business Management and Marketing.
• Occupation: Retired environmental rngineer from EJ&E Railway Co.
• Related experience: Former New Lenox Township trustee, Former Village of New Lenox Trustee. Current Will County Board Member for past seven years representing New Lenox, Mokena, Frankfort, Joliet and Tinley Park.

Candidate Questions

Is there any additional experience you believe qualifies you for the position?

Presently chairman of the Land Use & Development Committee for Will County, in recent past adopted new Conservation Design Subdivision and Water Resource Ordinances, assisted residents with zoning issues, flooding problems, reduced speed limits in residential and high traffic areas.

I spearheaded the drive to lower electric rates for County residents, which will be on March 20 referendum ballot. Chairman of Finance Committee for Will County Forest Preserve District. Member of Will County Local Emergency Planning Committee and Stormwater Management Committee. Board Member and Treasurer for New Century Federal Credit Union, which serves New Lenox and Joliet.

Former Board Member for Illinois Railroad Association and Indiana Railroad Transportation Group, while working for the EJ&E Railway I was in charge of Environmental Compliance and Governmental Relations, Past Chairman of Three Rivers Manufacturers Association Environmental Committee. 

What would your priorities be if elected to this office?

Continue to be a watchdog for fiscally reponsible budgets and levies, continue to provide for good public roads and bidges, sheriff police, court system and well planned land use and development in the county.   

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

My vast experience in public office and my ability to respond to issues brought to me by Will County residents.

What can the county do to promote job growth and draw new business to Will County?

The county should continue to rely on the Will County Center for Economic Development to promote job growth and draw new business to Will County. They have a proven record of bringing jobs and business to Will County.  We have two new intermodel facilities and may new warehouse and manufacturing facilies added in the past 10 years.  The county should continue to provide rebates on property taxes as incentives to new businesses.

Do you believe Cook County is encroaching on Will, and how would you make sure there isn't a negative influence from the city?

I believe Cook County is encroahing on Will County, which is evident by the new congressional districts that stretch from downtown Chicago into Will County. We need to make sure that if a Chicago congressman represents Will County that they can't ignore us, but must be responsive to our needs and requests. Will County government should be in regular contact with our representitives so they are aware of issues in Will County. 

Should it be Will County or a special commission in charge of a proposed airport? Why, and how would that work?

Will County has in the past proposed a Governing Board made up of the communities surrounding the airport (Peotone, Crete, Monee and University Park) and Will County itself.  It has also proposed a Land Use Plan that is designed to benefit all the entities equally. I believe this proposed board and plan would be best for Will County. The Will County airport should not be controlled by Chicago or Cook County.

All candidates have lauded the current board for work balancing the budget; what more would you do to practice fiscal responsibility?

We should continue to live within our means. If the assessed value of the county continues to expand, budgets could be increased accordingly to provide for new facilities as the present facilities become inadequate.

Besides Renewing Will County, would you propose any projects related to sustainability in the county?

The County needs to continue to provide for adequate roads, bridges, courts and public safety as the County continues to grow.

What ideas do you have for improving the county's infrastructure and transportation?

We need to continue to take advantage of the RTA sales tax money which comes into Will County to improve roads and bridges. We need to continue to improve transportation by widening intersections and providing traffic control signals at major intersections.

In what ways can the county operate more efficiently and improve technologically?

The county should continue to provide more information over the internet so that residents can file for permits or retrieve documents without leaving their home or office.