Swartz hoping to serve on Elburn village board

During the five years that Rob Swartz has lived in Elburn, he has saved the St. Gall Parish St. Patrick's Day dinner (a 126-year-old tradition), and opened a driving school downtown.

Can he be elected trustee? Three four-year terms are open, and he is running against Kenneth N. Anderson, Jr., David Gualdoni, Jerry Schmidt, Jeffrey Walter and incumbents Tom Burgholzer and Jeff Humm.

Swartz wants the opportunity, not only because he feels strongly about the issues, but because he'd like to serve the people of Elburn.

"I got cheated," Swartz says, referring to the back injury that ended his career as a Glendale Heights policeman in 2005. "I enjoyed my public service and I didn't want to accept the fact that it was over."

Swartz says he is feeling good enough to continue running the annual dinner at St. Gall's and volunteering as a gun safety instructor. He can take on new responsibilities as well. "It's time for some fresh ideas," he said of the village trustees. "Why won't anyone make a decision?

"The Anderson Road bridge is an issue," he added. "I know it can't be built overnight, but it shouldn't take 15 or 20 years. They don't need to build it to bring in a Taco Bell or a Dunkin' Donuts. The train station is going to waste. Development (around the Elburn Metra station) needs to start soon."

Development around the Metra station includes extending Anderson Road south from Route 38 across the tracks to Keslinger Road. The Metra station is between Route 38 and Keslinger Road, and can be accessed from Keslinger.

Swartz also believes the village could be more fiscally responsible. He favors smaller police vehicles, fewer four-wheel drive trucks for the public works department, and suggests police vehicles be transferred to public works when no longer used. He favors tax incentives to bring in businesses, but doesn't want change for downtown.

"We have little stores, that's the way our downtown should be," he said.

Swartz and his wife Valerie are the parents of Bethany, 16, and Joseph, 14, both students at Kaneland High School.