Michele Aavang: 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: WoodstockWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: McHenry County board District 6Age: 51Family: Married, one son.Occupation: Self-employed farmer.Education: Associate of Science Degree, McHenry County College, 1988Civic involvement: Current Vice President of McHenry County Farm Bureau, President of the Woodstock Farmers Market board, Secretary of Greenwood Cemetery Association, member of the McHenry County Genealogical Society. Former leader of the largest 4-H club in McHenry County, and member of the McHenry County Farmland Preservation Alliance.Elected offices held: Trustee, Village of Greenwood, 2001-2008.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Encourage economic growth while maintaining fiscal responsibility.Key Issue 2 Demand open and transparent government.Key Issue 3 Protect vital agricultural economy and natural resources.Questions Answers McHenry County has managed the recession without a budgetary crisis like those in other counties. How do you ensure the county continues on that path and that reserves aren't depleted? Are there specific budget areas that need more attention?As always, and especially in the present economic environment, it is important to responsibly control spending.Reserve funds should not be used for anticipated, routine expenses.Expenditures need to be prioritized and analyzed.Waste must be eliminated and mindful cuts need to be made where practical.Redundant staff or departments should be consolidated or eliminated.Spending should be done thoughtfully and with long-term goals in mind.Investments in infrastructure need to be made that will benefit the economic future of the county.Does the McHenry County Board have a good transportation improvement plan? Please be specific and suggest whether you think anything is missing or should be scrapped.Planning regarding transportation infrastructure should be completed with long-term goals in mind.Anticipated growth and public transportation are key components in the plans.Decisions must be made that will benefit the businesses and work force located here, while not adversely impacting the quality of life we enjoy.Public input should be given a higher priority in the planning process.It is also essential that the county coordinate with other municipalities and agencies while developing these plans.Current public transportation in our county could be improved.There has not been a coordinated effort to see if the PACE buses are serving the needs of the community.Does the county need to address its ethics policies' Why or why not? If so, how?There is currently a lack of trust of the some county board members and staff due to publicized secretive meetings and pervasive conflicts of interest.This absence of ethical behavior is now common knowledge and must no longer be tolerated.Leadership must take a stand and demand an end to continued abusive behavior.Assess McHenry County's efforts thus far in terms of groundwater preservation and protection. What needs to be done now and in the future?The McHenry County Division of Water Resources was created in 2007 and is a important department tasked with protecting and preserving the quality and quantity of water in our county.This issue will become increasingly important in the future.Education on water issues is essential.The creation of the Unified Development Ordinance will be an important challenge for the board.The UDO, in conjunction with the Stormwater Ordinance will be instrumental in shaping the direction of our county. Municipalities need to work together to prioritize and coordinate water infrastructure projects.Mindful, long-term decisions must be made by our leadership to ensure a safe and adequate water supply for our county.Assess how the county health department approached the whooping cough outbreak. What should have been done differently?The health department seemed to react quickly to the reports, multiple vaccination clinics were held and there seemed to be coordination with the school districts.A prevention campaign featuring benefits and availability of vaccinations would be valuable, in conjunction with education involving health care providers, school leadership, and students to teach common sense precautions.The pertussis outbreak exists because many have childhood vaccinations which have waned, and because of the children who were never vaccinated.