Michael Jay Fagel: Candidate Profile

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: Sugar GroveWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Sugar Grove fire protectionAge: 58Family: Married, 5 grown children( 2 sets of twins)Occupation: Homeland Security Analyst, Argonne National Laboratory, Homeland Security Instructor at Northwestern University, NIU, Benedictine University, LSU and Fire Safety Emergency Management On Line Instructor at Eastern Kentucky UniversityEducation: Associates Degree Fire Protection Criminal Justice, University of Nebraska1974 Bachelors Science, Criminal Justice, University of Nebraska 1975-MastersPhD in Occupational Health Safety(OSHA)Columbia Southern Univ.1995-96 Certified Emergency ManagagerCivic involvement: Vice Chair, Kane County Local Emergency Planning Committee( LEPC)88-90 Chair of LEPC 1990-1994, Volunteer Member of the Rob Roy Drainage District 1996-2002,Volunteer Chairman of the Rob Roy Drainage District 2008-11, Sugar Grove Township Emergency Management Planner,2009-11Elected offices held: NoneHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Develop long-range planning goals and guidance to guide the future of the fire protection district for the health and safety of its emergency responders and the citizens they serve.Key Issue 2 Ensure continued service for fire suppression, emergency medical services and other services that are needed by the community in accordance within the fiscal constraints of the current economy.Key Issue 3 Ensure the staff has appropriate, necessary equipment and training to continue to provide excellent customer service in their community.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?Over 30 years experience in public safety, emergency services, 28 years as volunteer fire department member and officer, emergency manager, 10 years in law enforcement, 10 years as Reservist for FEMA/DHS (deployable asset) to Oklahoma City Bombing, Hurricanes, Floods, World Trade Center Attacks, Salt Lake City US Olympic Public Safety Command (UOPSEC) 2002. Served as Intelligence Analyst, National Guard Bureau CERIAC Desk, Created Emergency Operations Centers in the Middle East, and have a sincere desire to bring my training and experience to my OWN community. I helped develop the emergency tornado siren system for the Village of Sugar Grove in 1999 as well as helping to create their first approved disaster plan in 2007.Also, I spent 25 years as the truck fleet manger for a 100 vehicle North Aurora firm, and have a well rounded understanding of vehicle and facility maintenance, finance, labor, insurance and human resource issues as well.Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you, and if so, what is it?Sugar Grove is MY home and I would like to make a difference in my own community.I am deeply concerned about the shrinking economy, and the ability to fund operations and continue to provide essential critical service for our community. I have been trained in emergency services, and WANT to bring something back home . I have taught at and studied fire and ambulance operations from coast to coast, and world wide, and can share ideas from numerous vantage points that I have been exposed to in my career. It is my humble wish to bring the lessons home to strengthen our community , which is goal I have always had, as a first responder.Talking with your friends and neighbors, what seems to be their biggest fire safety concern? Explain the concern as you see it, and discuss how you think it should be addressed.How quickly and efficiently will Fire department and ambulance services be able to effectively respond to their homes in these tighter economic conditions, as they have read the papers about fire department budget cuts across the country. They want effective cost control, efficient stewardship and maintain the level of services. Also many citizens are unaware that these essential services are NOT a Village function, but that of a separate Fire Protection district and entity with its own governance.In these tight economic times, budgets have to be prioritized. Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?People nationwide have been concerned about the rising cost of health care and other fringe benefits; these must be examined as well to make sure that the staff is adequately appropriately cared for, while looking for economic reality in the face of decreasing revenues from all sources. Vehicle and front line equipment functionality are keys to the successful operational readiness of the organization to respond as necessary. Vehicle replacement and maintenance schedules must be constantly evaluated to provide efficient and needed equipment to support the members of the department safely, while responding to the community#146;s needs of life safety and property protection. Equipment costs and other expenditures may need to be evaluated as needed to maintain an effective response organization.Would you support sharing/pooling resources (i.e. printing, vehicles) with other local governments (school districts, village, etc.)? If so, what areas would you consider combining or merging to save money or improve efficiencySharing of scarce resources would be a key factor in reasonable economic prudence moving forward in this economic climate. We might examine and enter into joint purchasing arrangements with other local and neighboring entities to save on bulk costs, fuel, utilities, as well as other durable goods and supplies that are not unique to the emergency services sector. Other avenues must be explored with an open mind and an eye to the future as well.