Politics & Government

Village Clerk Candidate: Rob Sherman

Sherman is running against Janet Sirabian, who has held the position since 1979.

Name: Rob Sherman  

Age: 58  

Incumbent: No  

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Family: Celeste is the perfect wife — perfect in every way! We have been happily married for over 32 years, which is a tribute to our unending love for each other and our ability to fully cooperate with each other at all times. Dawn, 17, is ranked #18 out of 500 students in the Buffalo Grove High School Class of 2011. Obviously a sign of great parenting! I've told Dawn that, when she grows up, I want her to be just like her big brother, Rick, 28. I want Dawn to get a great education at a Big 10 university, just like Rick did. Then, I want her to get a fabulous job making lots of money, just like Rick has done.

Community involvement: Longtime and frequent participant in the municipal governmental process. Rob Sherman Advocacy has successfully challenged numerous unconstitutional practices by government. 20 year volunteer with American Red Cross Disaster Services (1979 - 1999). Past member of the Wheeling Township Democratic Organization. Now the Green Party Wheeling Township Committeeman. Former member IVI/IPO (Independent Voters of Illinois / Independent Precinct Organization) 1970's. Trick-or-treated for UNICEF in the 1960's, so I've been actively involved in changing the world for the better for a very long time.

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Link to campaign web site: http://www.robsherman.com/clerk/home.htm  

Why are you running for Village Clerk?

To provide the residents of Buffalo Grove with a quality of service, competence and reliability that they no longer are receiving from the incumbent. There's a long-standing principle in politics: "Hey, buddy, if you think that you can do a better job, then run for the office, yourself." I know that I can do a better job, so I'm running.

What are the key issues that the clerk will have to address in the next four years?

Will the clerk provide with the least information and services that the clerk legally can get away with, as the incumbent does, or will the clerk provide the most comprehensive information and services that are practical to provide, as I will do?  Will the clerk prepare Minutes that say, essentially, "We talked. Then we went home," as the incumbent has sometimes done, or will the clerk provide Minutes that reveal, rather than conceal, by providing a Summary of Discussion in the Minutes that says who said what about which topics? Will the clerk innovate and provide additional services, such as Passport processing and Notary services, or will the clerk continue to simply drift along from day to day without coming up with new ideas for doing things for the residents that could and should be done?   

What are your top three goals as Village Clerk?

I will provide Meeting Minutes that reveal, not conceal. I will introduce new services, such as Passport services and Notary services, and do so without raising costs. I will provide better security by not losing Village assets such as the keys to Village Hall or a tape of the Executive Session, as the incumbent has done.  

What are some of the village’s strengths?

Outstanding Village Board of Trustees which has consistently provided us with a balanced budget. Outstanding Village management, which is always open to hearing residents' concerns. Outstanding Village staff, particularly the Public Works Department, which always seems to have the streets clear of snow, curb to curb, within fifteen minutes of the end of snowstorms. Fabulous, hard-working residents who participate greatly in the community, despite what the incumbent says about how lazy and uninvolved she says we are.  

If elected, in what ways would your service be an asset to the village?

The residents will no longer have to guess what happened at meetings of the Village Board because the Minutes merely said, "We talked. Then we went home." My innovations will bring residents new services at Village Hall, so they won't have to travel to other towns to get them. Residents will no longer have to worry about whether their personal confidential information is safe, because the incumbent couldn't keep track of her keys to Village Hall.  

What distinguishes you from your opponent?

Competence. Reliability. Dedication to doing the best job possible, rather than doing the least amount of work necessary in order to collect the paycheck. 


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