Development was one of the main issues Montgomery Village Board candidates focused on at a recent forum.
In the race for Village Board, six people are vying for three open seats. Incumbents Denny Lee, Theresa Sperling and Steve Jungermann are challenged by former Trustee Bill Keck; Tom Betsinger, a member of the Montgomery Planning Commission; and Glenn Macey, a licensed real estate broker who works with the Illinois Public Risk Fund.
Macey said change is needed to help the village grow.
“We need residential development,” he said. “Get the residential built … then the commercial comes. We still have a blank canvas in a lot of areas, and I want to help finish that picture.”
Lee, however, said development has been happening in the village. He said in some cases, tax rebates have helped Montgomery grow.
“Sam’s, Binny’s — the rebates have helped our sales,” he said. “A lot of it is keep what we are doing and keep everyone using common sense and not getting carried away.”
He said a lot of development has come to the area in the past few years. However, there is an area in particular he would like to see developed, he said.
“We still have Orchard Road to Jericho, Route 30. We can build something there like a hotel. It is the thing we need with Aurora University out there,” he said.
He also said that area would be good for a complex that could serve as a catering and banquet center.
At the forum, the candidates also talked about what it takes to be a good Village Board member.
Betsinger said the most important quality someone can have to serve on the board is a desire to help the community.
“It is really important for a board member to have passion for the position,” he said.
Sperling said she listens hard to the residents and is a voice for them during debates.
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“We are responsible for making decisions,” she said. “Anyone who has a passion to serve can be a trustee. It is up to the voters to make the decision.”
She said she enjoys attending village events as a way of discussing concerns with residents.
Jungermann has served on the board for four years and said he finds the position an “honor.” He said the village has to deal with the fact that other levels of government have their problems.
“State and federal governments are broken and have failed us as citizens,” he said. “The state is using our funds for the state’s budget crisis. We cannot let this happen.”
One of the candidates, Keck, was unable to make the recent forum, but in a previously released statement, he cited his 20-plus years in community service as evidence of how he would lead if elected to the position.
The election is set for April 4.
Judy Pochel is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.