John E. Barrett: 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: Mount ProspectWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Prospect Heights parksAge: 76Family: Married, four children, Seven grandchildrenOccupation: RetiredEducation: Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering,Rensselaer Poly. Inst.,1956MBA in Finance and International Business,Columbia Univ,1967.Civic involvement: KofC Council 4483St. James Retired Mens ClubElected offices held: Arlington Hts. School District 25 School Board, 1991-1996Prospect Heights Park District Commissioner,1999-PresentHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Maintain the financial integrity of the Park District; presently serve as Board Treasurer and Chairman of the Finance CommitteeKey Issue 2 Preserve open space and provide updated recreational opportunities for participantsKey Issue 3 Provide increased walking path opportunities; Wertz Woods Nature Park presents passibilities to create more nature trails with the help of the communityQuestions Answers What programs aren#146;t paying for themselves? Would you keep, eliminate or change them? How and why?Golf operations are marginally profitable in these difficult economic circumstances. It is essential to preserve and increase profitability to ensure the long term viability for the Park Dist.Is there any additional open space the park district needs to acquire? Please describe.None at this time. It is important to keep abreast of new opportunities within budget restraints.Are there any unmet recreational needs? If yes, what are they and how would you propose paying for them? Or, should they wait until the economy improves?We should strive to update capital expenditures to continually improve park lands. A Master Plan is currently under revision to address and prioritize our needs.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 efficiency?We share communications with the Library. We also have cooperative agreements with neighboring Park Districts and schoolsIf you are a newcomer, what prompted you to run for the park board? If you're an incumbent, list your accomplishments or key initiatives in which you played a leadership role.Board Treasurer 3 years. Active in monitoring expenses and exercising oversight.Prior served as Board Secretary for 5 years. Actively engage in adjustments to the Debt Structure in coop with Outside Financial Advisor.