2017 Election: Kevin Boyd, New Trier Township Trustee

Name: Kevin Boyd

Age: 47

Town of residence: Wilmette

Position sought: New Trier Trustee

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?: No

Education: Master’s degree in Communication Systems, Strategy and Management from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Broadcast and Electronic Communication from Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI.

Occupation: Currently Chief Information Officer at the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business. 25 years of experience in business and higher education.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Position: Experience on Village of Wilmette committees, including the 125th Anniversary Committee and Ad-hoc Technology Committee.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The Township needs to improve communication with residents. Too many residents are unfamiliar with the great programs and services offered by the Township. I and my fellow Economy Party candidates intend to redesign the Township website, redo the print and online newsletter and make better use of social media to communicate with residents.

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

My fellow Economy Party candidates and I are focused on leading the Township forward:
- improving service delivery,
- improving communications,
- ensuring that the township has a long-term plan that is developed with input from the residents.
We will provide the leadership the Township requires to continuously improve and thrive.

Our opponents are focused on percentages and how much they can cut. That isn’t leadership. It’s how you damage and diminish good organizations. Our township deserves better than what they offer.

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

I will consider my term a success when the residents of the Township are fully aware of the services available to them from the township and are using the services when they have need of them. I want us to have multiple ways to obtain feedback from residents about the services and how they are meeting the needs of the community. We should constantly be looking for ways to improve the effectiveness of the programs and services of the township.

Why should voters trust you?

I will consider my term a success when the residents of the Township are fully aware of the services available to them from the township and are using the services when they have need of them. I want us to have multiple ways to obtain feedback from residents about the services and how they are meeting the needs of the community. We should constantly be looking for ways to improve the effectiveness of the programs and services of the township.

Share a quote that defines your philosophy:

“No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself or get all the credit for doing it.” - Andrew Carnegie

What questions should be asked of current government employees accountable to your board?

I will ask them:
1. If you could make any changes to the Township, how would you make it more effective for the residents you serve?
2. Are there changes that the Township can make to become more efficient? Changes to save money on administration expenses? Changes to allow money to be reallocated to programs and services?
3. What is the right budget allocation for the programs and services for which you are responsible?

Governments exist to serve the public good. Elected officials are public servants who must always be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. Expenditures should be carefully evaluated to understand what is needed and ensure that the Township maximizes the impact of each dollar spent.

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

I’ve successfully led multiple teams of more than 50 people and managed budgets of more than $10 million. I’ve significantly transformed organizations to improve their effectiveness, efficiency, and customer service. I welcome the opportunity to bring my experience to the Township.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

Don’t try to change everything on day one. Spend time getting to know people. Learn about what they do, and how and why they do it. Learn about the history, the culture, and the processes. Identify the challenges and identify the opportunities. Ask why. Keep asking why. No one will remember what you do in the first thirty days. They probably won’t remember what you did in the first 90 days, but you can cause a lot of damage in that time. They will remember what you do in the first six months to a year if you get it right.

That advice came from Tony Hunter, who went on to become Publisher and CEO of the Chicago Tribune and Tribune Publishing.

I think it is great advice. It’s served me well over the years, and I will apply the same advice to the Township.

More via New Trier Economy Party's campaign website

Photo submitted by Kevin Boyd