Craig Rakow: 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: CarpentersvilleWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Dundee Township parksAge: Candidate did not respond.Family: Married to wife Donna, 3 married children and 6 grand children.Occupation: Sales: Floorcovering sales at Solution Design Group, East Dundee and part time sales at L.L. Bean, South BarringtonEducation: Bachelor of Science in Education, Bradley UniversityCivic involvement: Past member of: Dundee Township Rotary Club, Northern Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Dundee Jaycees and Board Member of Elgin Symphony Orchestra.Elected offices held: Board Member of the Dundee Township Library. 1977-1981. Commissioner of Dundee Township Park District, 1981-2011.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Listening to the residents of Dundee Township and responding to their park and recreation needs.Key Issue 2 Continuation of a good working relationship between comissioners and staff.Key Issue 3 Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers What programs aren#146;t paying for themselves? Would you keep, eliminate or change them? How and why?The swimming pools and their programs are always challenging to operate economicly. An example is the Sleepy Hollow pool. The DTPD has spent a great deal of money trying to keep this older pool functioning to serve the area residents. Although this is a costly expeniture, their are no plans at this time to eliminate this facility.Is there any additional open space the park district needs to acquire? Please describe.At this point in time, we are working with the Kane County Forest Preserve on the development of the Brunner property. We will be sharing this property for recreational activities.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?The response from the surveys taken by the DTPD, the number one issue presented by the residents is a fitness center and facility on the west side of the township. We are currenty in the planning stage for a new facility that will be paid for by partisipating in the government's Build America Bond Program. The building will be constructed on our Randall Oaks property facing Randall Road.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?I believe the DTPD has a great working relationship with all the villages in the township, District 300, Kane County and Dundee Township in sharing properties and sometimes expenses. Currently the DTPD is offering to rent space in the newly proposed fitness center building, to the Dundee Township Library for a west side branch. This would help the tax payers of the township from having to pay for a new library building.If 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.I have served 30 years as a township elected Dundee Township Park District Commissioner. During the 30 years I have served every officer position. During the thirty years, I have been part of a team that decided to build the district's first Recreational Center, a new Senior Center, Dolphin Cove Water Park, a new club house at Randall Oaks Golf Course, purchase Bonnie Dundee Golf Course and form a partnership with the Dundee Township Boy's and Girl's Club.