The eighteen DuPage County Board members (three from each of the County's six districts), along with the County Board Chairman's office, the Judges of the 18th Judicial Circuit and the other nine County-wide elected officials (Auditor, Circuit Court Clerk, Coroner, County Clerk, Recorder of Deeds, Regional School Superintendent, Sheriff, State's Attorney and Treasurer) are responsible for the management and operation of the broad range of public services provided by the County, including a court system, police protection, jail operation and maintenance, youth detention, maintenance and construction of streets and traffic signals, water and sewer service and education, community, health and welfare services.

The County Board is the legislative and policy-making body of the County and has as its primary role to support and move forward the County government's mission, which at its core is to assure that the County and its communities are desirable places to live, work and raise families. To achieve this end we need appropriate, innovative and financially sound services, lead by County Board members who are able to anticipate the pressing issues and provide the necessary help to develop real solutions. The Board must be fiscally and operationally responsible to individuals and businesses in the collection of taxes, fees and other revenues, as well as the management and cost-effective expenditures of the County.

I will bring a true business perspective and common sense to the financial and service issues challenging our County. The taxpayers deserve and need a County government that is fiscally responsible and one that better manages its financial and operational well-being and expectations - and not have doomsday situations and tax referendums be the norm. However, I have never been a “single issue” candidate and will work hard in applying my broad experience as an elected and appointed official, community leader, CPA and business attorney to better DuPage County for its residents. Home Rule

I strongly oppose any attempt to apply Home Rule to DuPage County through any method other than by way of a voter approved referendum process. Any other means to bestow such powers does a tremendous disservice to the voters and taxpayers of this County. I believe it important that the voters fully understand and agree to a decision that would give the County broader power to tax and regulate. The voters would need to be truly convinced that certain problems are better dealt with locally, that the “one-size fits all” state solution couldn't possibly foresee the local problems triggered by the increasing urbanization and complexity of society and that the County would operate responsibly. Financial Future

The fact that the state has provided some necessary funding for the County through the increased County sales tax legislation, does not mean “happy days are here again,” but rather provides an opportunity to not make the same mistakes again! And plan, plan, plan!

The County must live within its means - just as taxpayers must always do. In order for the County to have long-term financial stability and provided needed services, steps must continue to be taken to provide for better basic financial planning and budgeting, which was lacking in times of surplus revenues. I have attended the recent County Board budget hearings, reviewed the past few years' financial statements, and read and understand the approved and proposed budgets. I have also personally spoken to and met with many Count Board members, all the County-wide elected officials, including Chairman Bob Schillerstrom, Auditor Jim Rasins, Treasurer Gwen Henry, State's Attorney Joe Birkett, and Clerk of the Circuit Court Chris Kachiroubas, as well as Chief Financial Officer Fred Backfield.

I have done my home work and know that certain funding was needed, but that improvements can continue to be made in the County's financial processes to secure the County's financial state for an extended period.

My goals are to anticipate issues and develop creative solutions, including meaningful public-private partnerships, intergovernmental relationships and outsourcing. I also support a plan to review a phase out all government employee pension programs and conversion to defined contribution (401k type) plans as a way to bring costs down, yet remain competitive within the employment market; which many private businesses have undertaken over the years. The County must continually work to legally create, propose and deliver effective cost controlling measures and revenue sources that would minimize the impact on local taxpayers and ensure that necessary expenditures meet actual revenues. Operating Future

The pressing needs of the County will require ongoing development of operational processes that continuously evaluate and improve services, with an emphasis on cost efficiency. Foremost, the core safety and security services from the County's courts, jails and sheriff's departments must be better managed and operated. Further, health and human services and affordable housing continue to be increasingly important.

The fact is, we all must do more with less and this is also true of our professional administrators. All County operations require consideration of innovative ideas and a cost/benefit approach that best serves the County and these challenges.

Finally, a focus on economic development and attraction to businesses are critical to the County's continued viability. Now more than ever, the Board must be responsible both fiscally and operationally, with respect to balancing taxpayer interests and the services that the government is expected to provide. Transportation Needs

County transportation needs, while maybe not presently “pressing”, represent a key County service that must continue to be met, impacting virtually every resident, daily. As the County's Strategic Plan indicates, regional access to work and education, the ability of businesses to move goods and the ability of people to easily move around the County to access needed services are compromised by traffic congestion and the lack of a well developed mass transit system. The County's 10-year transportation plan provides the blueprint to move its transportation system forward, subject to available funding. Mass transit may not be for everyone, but it is a vital component to a healthy County and it must continue to be made available and develop for those seeking to use it. Stormwater

I am not in support of the proposed fee for stormwater services as recommended in a County Study and being considered by the Stormwater Committee as a new method of funding stormwater management in DuPage County. While I generally support user fee-based services, this approach is in fact a property tax surcharge, still relating primarily and directly to the property an entity owns. While the County is primarily responsible for stormwater control, flood prevention and compliance with the federal Clean Water Act, the financial impact of such a fee would be inequitable to tax-exempt entities such as government entities (many subject to tax caps and no opportunity to recover), and non-profit organizations such as churches that normally do not pay property taxes. Unless some of these issues can be addressed, I would not support this fee. Board Compensation

I am not in it for the money. I have always been involved in public service for the genuine satisfaction it has provided me. My prior service has always been with out compensation. Although it may make no material impact on the County's budget, I believe that part-time County Board members must “share the sacrifice” that they are asking the taxpayers to make through the recent state sales tax legislation and County employees to bear through recent budget cuts. Accordingly, as evidence of the Board's leadership role, I would support a meaningful reduction in all County Board members' salaries, stipends, heath benefits and pensions–again, these positions are part-time and should not have full–time benefits.

A key issue facing DuPage County and District 5 surrounds the news that Canadian National Railway Company (CN) is seeking to buy most of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern (EJ&E) rail line. Part of the line that is subject to the acquisition runs directly through DuPage County’s District 5, north to south in Aurora. The additional rail traffic potentially quadruples the number of freight trains on the line.

As CN explains, the plan would be to divert freight traffic from Chicago and its main benefits are to be economic and environmental to the Chicago region. However, it also has the very real potential and negative impacts of causing massive traffic back-ups at the 133 at-grade crossings in the suburbs, including eight in Aurora and District 5, and related increased noise and safety issues.

The impact on District 5’s residents, neighborhoods and businesses is dramatic. The federal Surface Transportation Board is the government entity initially reviewing the proposal and impact. While the CN has indicated a desire to work with the communities on their challenges, it is important that our elected officials and citizens speak out at this time.

That is why, I support The Regional Answer to Canadian National Coalition (TRAC), along with impacted communities and many other elected officials.

I support this united front and agree with those involved that this issue needs to be attacked head on and immediately, to be sure that - CN, our government agencies and officials, and the process - properly address the congestion, safety, noise and overall quality of life issues that this proposal brings. Accordingly, I have prepared and sent a letter to local elected officials which explains my concerns in this regard, that is provided below.