Ryan Heuser: 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: MarengoWebsite: http://www.RyanHeuser.comOffice sought: McHenry County board District 6Age: 38Family: Married with 5 ChildrenOccupation: IUOE Local 150 Operating EngineerEducation: Marengo Community High School, Marengo, IL IUOE Local 150 Apprenticeship Program, Wilmington,ILCivic involvement: I support several professional and community driven organizations. At this time, I would like my political presence to be led by my campaign and not extract personal gain from these affiliations.Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: I have never been arrested or convicted of a crimeCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Ambitiously cultivate the economic growth of our community, while maintaining a balanced budget through cost saving efforts that DO NOT include job loss or work force reduction.Key Issue 2 Develop a comprehensive plan to improve the infrastructure in McHenry County, such as improving the quality of roads, bridges and transportation flow. A better infrastructure could attract desired corporations to McHenry County, which would directly raise tax dollars and lower unemployment rates.Key Issue 3 McHenry County needs leaders to ensure that proactive water, energy and wildlife conservation are not neglected.Being an avid outdoorsmen, I am very aware of the strain development can have on a region and believe a balance is within our reach.Maintaining a clean environment is very important to me as it should be for all members of this community. I ensure that conservation efforts and the promotion of sustainable forms of energy will always be a driving force in my decision making.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?The citizens of McHenry county have been fortunate as to not have a budget crisis.There is still work to be done.An area that I would like to further evaluate is the salaries for elected officials.Many of these roles are 'side-jobs' and should be considered a community service.In these times, we take time to volunteer for so many organizations that are in need? Well, I think the economic health of our community could be considered 'in need'.I would like to see those excess monies be used to keep municipal positions that have had to be cut due to lack of funds.My focus is going to be trimming the excess and putting it back where it is needed the most.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.The existing plan is fine, but needs to be implemented in a timelier manner.We should be multi-tasking when repairs are made, not just hen pecking here and there.Widen the roadways now, not when it has already become a problem.Learn from our neighboring counties, haste does make waste. We also need put into action a public transportation plan to make getting around the county more convenient for those who do not have their own transportation.Does the county need to address its ethics policies' Why or why not? If so, how?I believe the existing ethics policy is appropriate as it is written.How it may be translated and utilized is another questionAssess McHenry County's efforts thus far in terms of groundwater preservation and protection. What needs to be done now and in the future?I think improvements are needed here.I would like to see better curbs and gutters in some major roadways to help direct the water into the sewer system so it can be treated and not just wash into the waterways.In towns like Marengo, there are multiple areas that have flooding issues and if a detention pond was built, it would definitely help with water conservation.Assess how the county health department approached the whooping cough outbreak. What should have been done differently?Once the outbreak was made public, I believe they did a good job keeping the community aware of prevention efforts and immunization options.I would like to see more proactive education to ensure that highly contagious or communicable diseases that ?could? reach outbreak status would be revisited in community health education.Due to childhood immunizations not always being complied with, there is potential for other outbreaks and early prevention is always the best route for minimizing the spread in future events.