Thomas Hummel: 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: LisleWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Lisle parksAge: 35Family: SingleOccupation: AccountantEducation: Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and Business Administration, Clarke University, 1993Civic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: NoneHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Reduce unnecessary spending and cutting taxes. I've been to many meetings over the last year and I have seen opportunities to cut spending. One recent example, the Park District is planning to hire a Naturalist. I don't believe the Park District needs one as there are already plenty of nature programs available for residents. The Dupage County Forest Preserve District has plenty of nature programs, there are not for profit organizations that offer educational opportunities, and we have the Morton Arboretum in our own backyard. All the Park District would be doing is offering programs that are already being provided by many others.Key Issue 2 Transparency.#8226; I would put the Park District's monthly expenditure reports online, similar to what the county has done.#8226; Video record the Park District meetings to either air locally on Channel 10 or on the Park District's website. Even if it's not live and on tape delay, I would rather the residents have a chance to view the meetings at some point than not at all. #8226; I would put the board packet online, which is currently not being done, and I would make sure the meeting agenda is posted online in a timely fashion as well.Key Issue 3 Selling or leasing The View Restaurant. We should not be spending upwards of $100,000 on consultants and redesigning and rebranding the restaurant. The restaurant has lost money every year and quite frankly, the government should not be in the restaurant business.Questions Answers What programs aren't paying for themselves? Would you keep, eliminate or change them? How and why?I would first try to find a way to make the program profitable or at least break-even. I would try to partner with other Park Districts or governmental units to share and reduce costs if possible. I would also try to pursue public -private partnerships that could work. After all avenues have been exhausted and if the program is still not paying for itself, I would eliminate it.Is there any additional open space the park district needs to acquire? Please describe.No. The Park District has plenty of parks and open space. That is not a need for the Park District. We should maintain what we already have. We do not need to be taking more land off the tax rolls.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?If there are any unmet needs, we should work with the private sector to provide them.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?ABSOLUTELY! That's a big part of the problem, there are far too many units of government (Illinois has the most of any state). I am all for working with other units of government to eliminate any duplicate/repetitive services being provided. I will support anything that will reduce costs and lower taxes.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.My property tax bill.