Steven Mandel: 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: Highland ParkWebsite: http://www.stevemandel.comOffice sought: Lake County board District 11Age: 58Family: Married, Two Children (males-24,27)Occupation: Retired-Stagehands IATSE local #2 Chicago Industrial Presentations 2001-2005 Master Electrician-Sound Asst./Ravinia Festival 1980-2000 Uptown Theater, Lyric Opera, Arie Crown Theater 1975-1980 Apprenticeship program and Southern Ill Unversity priorEducation: Attended Southern Illinois University - Aviation George Meany Institute for Labor StudiesCivic involvement: Past Chair and co-founder of Highland Park Conservation Society, LWV,Openlands,Sierra Club,Past Bd Member Opera Theater of Highland Park, Past Chair of Lake Michigan Watershed Ecosystem Partnership.Elected offices held: City of Highland Park Plan Commission 1991-93 City Of Highland Park Councilman 1993-present City of Highland Park Mayor Pro Tem 2010-present On Board of Directors and Executive Board Member at SWALCOHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NOCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Reduce government spending by creating efficiencies, partnerships, consolidating services with other governments.Key Issue 2 Open and Transparent GovernmentKey Issue 3 Creating a sustainability network throughout Lake CountyQuestions Answers The county remains in the black, but property taxes across the region are high. Should programs be cut to save taxpayers money? If so, which ones and why?I do not suggest programs should be cut but my 1st campaign issue would deal with reducing cost of government.What should be done with the Fort Sheridan golf course? If no building or management proposals come back from vendors, do you propose abandoning golf? If so, are you concerned about a lawsuit? If you propose building a course, how should it be funded?The Golf Course was a condition of the agreement with Highland Park, Highwood, Lake Forest, and the residents of the Fort Sheridan. It should not be looked at as a capitol expense of running a golf course but rather acquisition cost of the property. All the residents and neighboring towns were promised in writing that a Brand New High End golf course would be built in exchange for the "No Cost Transfer" of the land to the County. There was a model of the "NEW" Golf Course furnished by Lake County that was at the Town of Fort Sheridan Sales office. Purchasers were promised by Lake County that this NEW Course would be built when they bought their 250k- multi-millon dollar homes.It should be funded through the Land Acquisition Fund or negotiated with the homeowners for another remedy. I am very concerned that a long expensive lawsuit could occur if this matter is not resolved.The Winchester House nursing home recently was turned over to a private company for operation. Should other county or forest district departments be privatized to save taxpayers money? Please explain.Yes, we should look at privitazation when it is appopriate and we can provide quality service.Is there a specific type of service or amenity that is lacking in your district? If so, how do you propose to provide and fund that?More help for road and infrastucture funding. Open space preservation help is always welcome. Continued participation in Health Care possibilities, affordable housing, and sustainability initiatives. Existing funding should be used since I believe it is just a matter of appropriate funds properly.Should the county continue to pursue open space policies' Why or why not?Absolutely, I would like to see more land kept natural through partnerships, purchases, and donations. Lake County's culture of appreciation of natures beauty runs deep in all of us and preservation of our natural resources is of the highest value we share.