Tom Hundley: 2025 candidate for Addison mayor

Bio

Office sought: Addison mayor

City: Addison

Age: 59

Occupation: Small-business owner

Previous offices held: Village trustee

Why are you running for this office? Is there a particular issue that motivates you? Also, what makes you the best candidate for the position?

I have served as a village trustee for the past 25 years and as deputy mayor for the past 12 years. With Mayor Veenstra retiring, this is an opportunity for me to build on this experience and continue to serve the town I love.

As mayor, I will continue to prioritize public safety, growing our local business community, creating more living and shopping options, and ensuring our undeveloped properties reach their full potential consistent with the long-term goals of the village.

My experience as a village trustee, a small-business owner, and a longtime community volunteer makes me the best candidate to lead Addison. This experience matters most when it comes to being ready to lead on day one. Over the years, I have worked closely with Addison’s local, county, state, and federal officials, as well as our community groups, and I understand the importance of maintaining and strengthening these relationships.

Most importantly, I will continue listening to and working alongside our residents, business owners, and local leaders to ensure Addison remains a great place to live, work and raise a family.

What is the most serious issue your community will face in coming years and how should leaders respond to it?

Addison is in great shape, but like all communities, we must continue to make public safety our top priority by ensuring our police department has the training and tools to combat crime effectively. We must also work to strengthen the local economy which has been hit hard by the economic downturn following the pandemic.

Promoting these local businesses and encouraging residents to patronize them as often as possible helps everyone. On the public works side, we will be working to consolidate the village’s sewage and stormwater treatment plants to more efficiently remove phosphorus by 2030. This is an important project and a challenge facing many municipalities, but unfortunately, it is a mandate the state has imposed but is not funding.

How would you describe the state of your community's finances? What should be the top priorities for spending during the next few years? Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed?

The village’s finances are in excellent shape. Thanks to strong financial management policies and a diverse revenue base — residential, commercial, and industrial — I am very proud of our financial position

With an unrestricted fund balance of 62%, we are well above our own minimum target of 25%, ensuring a strong foundation for the future. The village board’s approach to securing state and federal grants has also reduced the burden on Addison taxpayers.

Our top spending priorities over the next few years include:

• Public safety — Ensuring our police officers have the latest training and technology.

• Infrastructure — Consolidating the wastewater treatment plants to meet state-mandated phosphorus removal requirements.

• Economic development — Working with developers to bring mixed-use projects to underutilized areas, attract new businesses, and grow our tax base.

What do you see as the most important infrastructure project you must address? Why and how should it be paid for? Conversely, during these uncertain economic times, what project(s) can be put on the back burner?

An unfunded mandate from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency requires the Village of Addison and all other municipalities and sanitary districts in Illinois to implement phosphorus removal at the wastewater treatment plants by 2030 or face fines for non-completion. The village of Addison owns and operates two wastewater treatment facilities subject to this unfunded mandate.

Multiple engineering studies have been completed to determine the best operational and financial route for implementing phosphorus removal. The studies determined that the most fiscally responsible route was consolidating the wastewater treatment plants and eliminating the combined sewer system. By consolidating the wastewater treatment plants, the village would reduce long-term operation and maintenance costs. The estimated cost of this project is $150 million.

By being fiscal responsible the board has been planning for this project for the last few years. The board also implemented an EPA fee on the water bill. Residents pay $8 a month, and businesses pay $55 a month. We also increased the sales tax by one-quarter of one percent. So, the burden wasn't solely on the tax's payers of Addison.

Describe your leadership style and explain how you think it will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board.

My leadership style is characterized by collaboration, transparency, and inclusivity. I believe in fostering an environment where every village trustee is empowered to contribute their ideas and insights. This approach is vital for creating a sense of ownership and commitment among board members. I believe that open dialogue encourages people to express their views on important issues and contributes to better and more inclusive decision making.

What’s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?

Addison has always had a strong sense of community, and that’s something we should continue to celebrate. Part of what makes our village special is that, despite our different backgrounds, we share the same core values — hard work, family, and a commitment to making Addison a great place to live.

I want to build on that by creating more opportunities for residents to come together through events that highlight Addison’s rich history, the personal stories and experiences behind our local businesses, and the people who make our community strong.

That could mean expanding local festivals, recognizing those who serve our community, and partnering with schools, businesses, and heritage organizations to showcase the traditions and experiences that have shaped Addison over the years.

These initiatives will bring neighbors together, strengthen our local economy, and foster a deeper sense of pride in the place we all call home.