My priorities always include the safety of our residents, fiscal responsibility and maintaining our infrastructure. As a 25-year resident, my wife and I raised our 3 children through Carol Stream schools, park district programs and we volunteered in several capacities. We love the community which is why I ran for trustee in 2020.
My background is in communications and marketing with a touch of technology. My undergraduate degree is in business and my master’s is in journalism. My 30 years in corporate America included working with CEOs, board members and those who were customer facing.
In my second term, I will continue to promote the village as a great place to live and as an enticing location for industry, retail and entertainment.
Carol Stream operates in the black, but the state is continually pulling funds from municipalities. Springfield recently gave residents a tax cut by eliminating the grocery tax, but it was only a revenue source for municipalities. This left villages like Carol Stream struggling to continue to provide services and not raise taxes. Chicago water rates also continue to rise.
We have a mayor who devotes time to working with other mayors to fight against career politicians taking advantage, but otherwise, we are left with making difficult decisions to maintain our budget.
This opens other challenges when we want to make enhancements to the village. We are left to seek grants, which are now under scrutiny under the new administration.
Coming from a corporate environment, I stressed teamwork, not competition among coworkers. I brought that attitude to the village board four years ago. I often refer to the board and village staff as my coworkers. It confuses some on the outside, but I’m always willing to explain.
This doesn’t mean we always agree, it means, from my perspective, that we have a common goal and work respectfully to find an agreeable way to get there. We talk things out. We respect each other. Without that, we aren’t doing our job effectively, something we all see examples of on the nightly news in any given year.
What we do is transparent. Our meetings are open, virtually or in person. We share things on social media. We are available to the public.
At any point in my first term, the most challenging times or the most rewarding, when someone asked if I planned to run again, I said yes without hesitation. It’s not something you do for fame or fortune, because you get neither.
I’m running again because I enjoy what I get to do for my community, I enjoy the team I work with, and I enjoy getting to know my community even better.
I coined a phrase for our charity bags tournament, “One Team Carol Stream.” I didn’t invent it, it was already there, I just came up with a name for it and it stuck. It applies to the heart of our community, the nature of the people in it and the reason my family and I live here. Carol Stream is a special place and I’m proud to have the role that I have.
Campaign Phone
312-961-9558
25 year resident of Carol Stream. Married and have 3 beautiful daughters. I’m running for office because I have a desire to serve my community and excited to give back to my wonderful town. I want to help make Carol Stream a better town for families and companies. I'm a 25+ year software sales professional. I help companies become more profitable, reduce costs and improve operational efficiency. As a sales leader, I spend more time listening to the needs of my prospects and customers before identifying a solution or recommending a resolution to a problem. I’m excited to leverage my business experience and communications skills in working with the board to make good decisions that improve Carol Stream and keep us debt free.
Town Center utilization and improvement. Since we have no downtown, the town center is the central meeting place for most residents. I’d like to work with the board and village staff in bringing more events and activities to the town center like a Sunday Farmers Market. I'd also like to create a photographic area that attracts people for group pictures - weddings, homecomings and prom.
Improvement in Carol Stream's outward appearance. I'd like to work with the board and public works in getting seasonal banners on light posts, more decorations during the Holiday season and new Carol Stream Welcome signs.
The board is made up of neighbors like myself who share the same commitment that I have in making Carol Stream a better town for families and companies. We all put the citizens of Carol Stream first when prioritizing where to allocate money. Safety, clean streets and good service to our residents is our priority.
To promote transparency with the community, I have listed all of my ideas to improve our town on a facebook group page - Ideas for a better Carol Stream. It allows residents to see my ideas, provide feedback and suggest ideas as well.
Thank you to the Wheaton League of Women Voters for giving myself and the other candidates an opportunity to get introduced to the community. I’ve lived in Carol Stream for 25+ years and I care about our town. I love our people. I'm excited to implement ideas that bring our community together and promote local business. I founded Brittany's Trees which now has 300+ volunteers that deliver, set-up and decorate 700 Christmas trees to homes in Carol Stream. I'm also excited to promote local restaurants via a facebook page Food Specials near Carol Stream.
I’m ready to serve.
I’m ready to listen.
I’m ready to lead.
Thank you in advance for your consideration in voting for me on Tuesday, April 1st.
GOD Bless,
Jim Guthrie
Campaign Phone
6302513572
I am a lifetime area resident and have live in Carol Stream with my wife Linda since 1997. I have two kids and two grandchildren that also live in Carol Stream and my biggest goal is to leave Carol Stream better than when i became a trustee. I have been a trustee since June of 2003.
I am running to continue to try and provide the best possible services to our residents, Businesses and visitors while maintaining no debt. i base my decisions on what is in the best interest of our residents and businesses.
Besides Trustee I am the Director of Operations at Niigata Inc where I have been since 1997.
I believe we have a responsibility to help those who need it which is why I help lead a yearly fundraiser Bags-For-Life
Our infrastructure is always a priority. Our goal should always be to provide a safe community that has quality roads, clean water, walking and bike paths. We need to be conservative with our spending so we can complete upgrades at our water reclamation facility, keep our roads, curbs and sidewalks well maintained.
We continually budget so we can pay as we go without taking on debt and we must continue to do that.
Revenue is always a top concern since we never know what new unfunded mandates will be handed to from state of federal agencies so, making sure our community development dept always has a pulse of our local businesses and also how we can encourage new growth.
Our village board and staff work as a team. we discuss, plan and implement together. Our slogan of One Team Carol Stream defines how each board member strives to work together in the best interest of our community. Maintaining strong relationships with other governing bodies also promotes working together and being open and fair. Disagreeing on an issue is ok as long as we can have an open conversation about our differences while coming up with a solution that is best for Carol Stream
Being as transparent as possible is important. Making sure our meetings are open and easily accessible is one way, having a website that is easy to navigate and making sure information is posted clearly and quickly also keep everything out in the open
I am proud of the job I have done since 2003. Working with fellow board members, businesses, residents and other bodies has given us better flood control, a better fire station, clean water at schools and even homes outside of Carol Stream. We have continually had a general fund with no debt, reserves that set us up in case of an emergency and a fantastic staff that works hard at making sure every penny we spend is spent in the smartest way possible.
Working as a team, we have a strong board who listens and works together to find the best solutions to provide the services, safety and fun that makes Carol Stream a great place to live and work. I absolutely love our village and the people who are part of it and that is why I am running
