As a lifetime resident of Kane County, I have enjoyed my first 4 year term on the county board and have fulfilled all of my campaign promises from the 2008 election. I would like to follow up on several of these projects as they move forward as well as meeting the future challenges the new administration will face.
1) There has been a tremendous turnover of county board members since 2008 and there will be a need for all board members to be active and engaged.
2) The Anderson Road bridge is a major project in my district and I want to keep it moving forward to start construction in 2013.
3) Property tax relief – Kane County accounts for less than 5% of the property tax bills and I am proud that the current and past board members have been excellent stewards of the taxpayer money. But we can look further into non-mandated programs and privatization to further cut costs.
We are substantially different in our background and interest in the job. I am a life-long resident of Kane County; I was a civic activist for over 13 years in the La Fox development issue and the Rustic Roads program and appeared before the County Board and every local government agency prior to seeking the office in 2008. I have an excellent meeting attendance record and have walked every forest preserve. There have been over 100 scheduled county meetings since the primary and my opponent has not attended any to my knowledge.
. I have accomplished all 5 of my campaign promises made in 2008 including railroad horn noise abatement, increased county board ethics policies, obtained land for youth and adult sports fields, and review and reorganization of the Mill Creek SSA administration. The Mallard Point drainage issue in Sugar Grove was the toughest project to fund and complete because of the large group of people and organizations involved. Construction is substantially completed as of September, 2012.
Completion of the Anderson Road bridge is the top local issue, but as that is anticipated for construction in 2013, I would choose property tax abatement. As previously mentioned, Kane County controls less than 5% of the tax bill but I know our tax bills can be 2 – 3 times what a similar house in other states would pay. All government agencies need to analyze this issue and attack it.
See #3, there is a long learning curve for county board members and having a first term under my belt, I feel I will be an effective, engaged county board member who shows up for meetings and responds to his constituents.
I am running as an average resident of Kane County who wants to know more about the workings of our county and I also want to be a part of the improvement our county has the potential to reach successfully.
Most importantly, allocating funds fairly and ethically is at the top of the list. Community health and education cannot be stressed enough and the preservation of our farmland and forests for our children to enjoy.
We are night and day, and I am not saying one is better than the other. That is for the community to decide. I am not a life-long resident of Kane County; I am a Minnesota farm girl who was brought up with strong faith and an honest, hard-working mentality. I have not walked every forest preserve, I have run them, raising money for charities in need. I am a hands-on kind of person, who listens intently to our community and hears the common struggles we all have. I will attend those board meetings when I am required to, until then, I relish on being active in our community and appreciating what God has given us the responsibility to do. I am known for giving 110% successfully in whatever I do.
Besides being philanthropically involved with various events to raise money for charities in our community and managing my companies, my biggest accomplishment in life are my four children who have taught me the basics in life I can use towards solving any problem. My two oldest twins are severely affected by cerebral palsy, which threw me in head first to an array of medical, insurance, and organizational stresses. Our situation has taught us a lot about how people with special needs are treated in our community and society. I have been a strong advocate for my sons and people who are at a disadvantage by relentlessly continuing to fight for their rights. This will be my job for the rest of my life and I feel honored God has given me this responsibility. These life experiences and characteristics will undoubtedly cross over to being an effective board member.
Prioritizing and allocating funds fairly and honestly is the greatest challenge this district faces. As an average resident to Kane County, I obviously have not done much to help solve it, but I look forward to it if the community gives me that opportunity.
Inexperience can sometimes be a positive addition to an equation that needs solving. If people are looking for change in our county, more of the same and requiring experience is not going to bring that. Fresh eyes to an old problem can help look at things creatively and logically without the influence of what has already taken place. I am not a politician, and have no desire to strive to be one. My interest is in relaying what I hear from our community to the county board and advocating for those who cannot advocate for themselves.
.jpg)
