Brian A. Coleman
March 28, 2011 1:48PM
Updated: March 28, 2011 3:18PM
Office sought: Trustee, Village of Richton Park
Name: Brian A. Coleman
Address: 22593 Brian Ln. Richton Park, IL. 60471
Date of birth: May 12, 1963
Email: Briancoleman2011@gmail.com
Website: www.Briancolemanfortrustee.com
Telephone numbers:
Home: 708-747-5886
Mobile: 708-508-6883
Work: 312-351-8365 (please keep this number private)
Education
St. Sabina (Grammar School)
Mendel Catholic (High School)
University of Illinois – Chicago, Bachelor of Science - Accounting
Certified Information Systems Auditor
Certified Financial Services Auditor
Certified Trust Auditor
Certified Risk Professional
Licensed Insurance Agent (Illinois)
Occupation, employer: Director, Operational Control Management – Primary responsibilities include auditing business functions, developing business continuity plans, evaluating processes for operational improvements and project management support. Combined Insurance
Income Source: Combined Insurance
Spouse, spouse employer: Warrette T. Coleman, Homemaker
Children, age of children: Brian II, 16 Quentin, 10
Relatives employed by government agency: None
What other elected offices have you sought? What year?
I have never sought an elected office.
Have you ever been arrested or charged with a crime? If so, for what? What was the disposition?
I do not have a criminal record.
Political (elected or significant appointment) experience:
In 2004, I was appointed by the Richton Park Board of Trustees to the Planning and Zoning Commission. In 2009, I was elected by the commissioners as Chairman by a unanimous vote.
In your view, what are the two most important issues facing your constituents? How would you address those issues?
I believe that the two most important issues facing the citizens of Richton Park are (1) escalating Village fees and (2) affordable recreational activities for our families. Once elected, I will address these issues with the following efforts in conjunction with the board and village staff. (1) We need to reexamine our spending patterns. There are a number of components to the village budget and our fiscal planning process should require a more transparent and value oriented review of the planned expenditures from each department. The introduction of the Community Center and the additional outlay of funds to address infrastructure challenges has caused additional burden on the taxpayers and this needs to be balanced against the near term and long range plans for the village. (2) The Richton Park community is filled with passionate volunteers. This is best demonstrated by the Youth Baseball Association in Richton Park where community leaders work with village staff to ensure that our youth have a viable option during the season to gain access to a great baseball experience. I will work with the village to identify volunteers that are willing to provide their time and talents to work with our youth in and around the community. We have very talented individuals in the Richton Park community that would welcome the opportunity to show and teach others. The Board needs to make this a priority and direct staff to just make it happen. We do not have the luxury of just adding more employees to an already burdened fiscal plan.
Please explain something significant you would like to accomplish within the next two years if you are elected to the office to which you aspire.
A significant accomplishment that I would like to see during my first two years as Trustee would be to create a 5 year plan that shows growth each year. This plan would not place us in a deficit situation during any of the 5 years, unlike our current projections. I would work to accomplish this without a significant increase in fees to the community and would instead focus on ways to expand retail sales to support the plan. I would challenge each department to identify and remove unnecessary spending while ensuring that we are all focused on the same goals for the community.
Please explain how you believe the office you’re seeking can help in creating local jobs.
As Trustee in the Village of Richton Park, we can assist in creating jobs in our community through the marketing of our community benefits to prospective businesses. We can help to identify business owners and entrepreneurs that would be willing to relocate and/or establish a relationship with our community. We must work with staff and not just sit in the board room and pick apart each idea that is presented. These times require a more proactive board and job growth must be on everyone’s agenda.
Would you make any changes to the budget of the governing unit to which you are seeking elected office? If so, what?
I would make changes to the Village of Richton Park budget. As previously stated, I would review spending on non-essential activities. I would examine community based programming to ensure proper coverage of our primary goals. I would evaluate the resources currently focused on alternative funding sources (e.g. grants, partnering options with other agencies, shared revenue opportunities with the private sector) to ensure that we have fully assessed these options. Once identified, I would work with the board to ensure that we inspect what we expect.
In closing, for over 16 years, I have been working with members of the Richton Park Community to make a positive difference in the lives of its residents and businesses. This community is about 20 minutes outside of Chicago and it offers a great variety of housing stock along with some very attractive amenities. We have the premier roller skating rink in the Chicagoland area (Rich City Skate), one of the highest traveled Metra train stops in the area and soon we will have the first Public Charter High School in the area Southland College Prep Charter High School under the leadership of Dr. Blondean Davis.
I know that I am prepared to serve as a Trustee in the Village of Richton Park and I would welcome the opportunity to be of greater service in the community that I love.
