James "Jay" Roti, Homer Glen Village Trustee Candidate

HOMER GLEN, IL — James "Jay" Roti is a candidate for Village of Homer Glen Trustee. There are six candidates running for three open positions in this race.

The consolidated election is April 4.

You can find Roti's answers to the Patch candidate questionnaire below:

Your Name:

James “Jay” Roti

Age (as of Election Day):

53

Town/City of Residence:

Homer Glen

Office sought:

Village board

Party Affiliation (if a partisan race):

N/A

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education:

Trade School

Occupation:

Business owner and Electrician for 34 years

Campaign Website or Facebook:

www.HomerForward.com

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office:

None

The most pressing issues facing our (board, district, etc.) are _______, and this is what I intend to do about them.

Taxation and Development are major issues and the infrastructure that goes along with that. We need to keep taxation at a point so that residents, especially our senior’s, do not get taxed out of their homes. It is necessary for Homer Glen to move forward with necessary development to accomplish a lower tax base. I say necessary development because we need to be selective of that development so that we can hold on to our rural charm that attracts people to our community. We need to look for cost-effective ways to build our infrastructure so that Homer Glen is not continually beholden to other surrounding communities. A perfect example of this is our sewage agreement with Lockport that expires in 2030. To move Homer forward, we need to have a well planned out infrastructure to attract and accommodate future development that will enhance our community.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

The biggest difference is that for the past two years I, along with my Homer Forward running mates, have been attending our Village, Township and School Board meetings. We have been in attendance, listening and learning.

As for the others running against us, I have seen one candidate at two meetings just recently, the others are no shows.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)? Or what changes would you like to see?

I am actually running for a vacant position. I am looking forward to working with the current board and continue their responsible development and low taxation efforts.

Describe the other issues or ideas that define your campaign platform:

Community Involvement - I want to keep the community involved with moving homer forward. Homer Glen isn’t a single person's vision, it’s a vision of the community.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have been in the construction industry for 34 years. Originally as an electrical worker gaining field experience. I later obtained my Supervising Electrical Licensing and began working for my family's company as a worker, operations manager, project managing and value engineering. Our customer base is wide and diverse. The management side of any business requires dedication, due diligence and the ability to communicate properly with your employees, vendors and customers. I want to bring my experience to the Village of Homer Glen, my home.

Why should voters trust you?

I love where I live and I will do whatever it takes to protect it, so that it can move forward into the future successfully.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?

Keeping taxation controlled so that people don’t have leave our community.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the handling of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

My view is to leave no stone unturned, to explore very option and think outside the box prior to spending. The easy thing to do is to raise taxes, doing the easy thing isn’t fiscally responsible, it’s actually a derelict of duty.

Do you support the Illinois assault weapons ban, and would you support a local assault weapons ban in this community?

No

Do you think the current board has done enough to support racial equality? If not, what specifically should be done to do so?

Yes

Do you support the SAFE-T Act? Why or why not?

No, because there are so many parts of it that don’t even make common sense. One example is how it restricts law enforcement, when called, to remove a trespasser from private property. There’s more, but no I’m not in favor.

What are your thoughts on the crime rate in your community, and what more can be done to combat crime — especially violent crime — in town?

Currently, our community is pretty quiet, and we support our law enforcement.

What is your view of the city's/village's approach to commercial and residential development?

I believe I addressed this in my comments above.

When it comes to development, what are some key areas for improvement or additions you feel are most wanted by residents? What will need to be done to make this happen?

I think our community would benefit greatly from a town center like other surrounding communities. The right design and the right developer that holds true to the rural charm of Homer Glen.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

No

The best advice ever shared with me was:

God gives you nothing you can’t handle.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I love our community. My wife and I raised our children here, my parents are senior citizens here and we don’t have any plans of leaving.