Rebecca Gillam: 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: West DundeeWebsite: http://www.beckygillam.orgOffice sought: Kane County board District 21Age: 50Family: Husband, Craig - married 27 years Two children, Haley and GusOccupation: Trustee in the Village of West Dundee, garden center sales/design, and freelance interior designerEducation: Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design, Drake University, 1983 Continuing education in architecture and CADD at C.O.D., Harper and Elgin community colleges.Civic involvement: "Earth Day, Every Day in West Dundee" Community Gardening Project - organizer - 2010 2011 West Dundee Appearance Review Commissioner - 2005-2007 District 300 schools: Buildings and Facilities Oversight Committee -- 2007 to present Dundee-Crown POMP (Parents of Music Performers) President, 1 year; member, 4 years Dundee-Crown Booster Club member -- 1 year Dundee Middle School Plan Team -- 5 years Dundee Highlands Elementary PTC -- President, 2 years; member, 7 years New Friends Neighbors -- President and committee chairman Dundee Township Backyard Garden Club -- 3 years Heritage Fest volunteer/organizer -- 2003 to present Dickens in Dundee volunteer/organizer -- 2005 to present Irish Fest volunteer -- 2 years MDA ?Lock-Up? fundraiser -- 2011 Shop with a Cop 2011 volunteer JDRF Family Walk Team Chair -- 12 years Palatine Plan Commissioner - 1995 - 1996 Jaycees -- member, 9 years; Palatine Jaycee of the Year winner 1994; IL State Individual Development Vice-President of the Year 1995Elected offices held: Trustee - Village of West Dundee - 2007 to presentHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Transportation in District #21.Huntley Road expansion. The Village of West Dundee has spent many years trying to impress upon both State and County governing officials the importance of the Huntley Road expansion to the area in order to alleviate congestion and provide safety improvements, such as a walking path, which would also provide an important link in the County's goal of connectivity of recent Open Space purchases. I would continue to pursue funding and devote my time to open transportation avenues from Randall Road to Spring Hill Mall and the East and West Dundee downtown retail districts.Longmeadow Parkway. The process to build a new Fox River crossing in northern Kane, the first since the construction of the tollway, has begun. This important project will alleviate the strain on the existing crossings and improve commuter travel. Construction funding for the bridge portion of this project, as proposed, would be through the use of a tollway system. I would work to find alternative funding through both the state and federal governments.As the representative of District #21, I would be supportive of this project in order to see it through to successful completion.Key Issue 2 Smaller government.It is imperative that, in order to hold taxes level, the Kane County board continue to look for efficiencies at every turn: removing redundancy, improving technology, consolidating services, simplifying and clarifying processes, identifying and improving upon weaknesses, and clearly communicating the Board's priorities.Key Issue 3 Intergovernmental cooperation.The harsh economic climate of the past years has made it more difficult for any governmental body to "go it alone" when planning a project. Both the Dundee Township Park District and the Village of West Dundee has had great success partnering with surrounding communities through intergovernmental agreements (IGA), in order to maintain or improve service. For example, West Dundee's Fire Department shares a mechanic with neighboring Rutland-Dundee Fire and the Dundee Township Library district partnered with the Dundee Park District to build their new Randall Road facility. The competition for available grant money is becoming more competitive. Partnerships such as these often allow participants to access more funding and derive more benefit for them than they could by going it alone. Collaborations can also encompass both the public and private sectors.I would work to see the Kane County government and the Kane County Forest Preserve improve their partnerships with local municipalities for road projects, community policing,and especially for the sharing of information, providing access to resources that smaller towns, like those in District #21, may not individually possess. Everyone wins when we choose to work together.Questions Answers Do you support a more stringent ethics ordinance for Kane County governing the conduct of elected officials and county employees' Why or why not? If so, what should the ordinance contain?I support a stringent, enforceable ethics ordinance. Corruption is a breach of trust that undermines confidence in government, endangers public safety and wastes taxpayer money. To start, the ordinance should contain the restrictions and consequences of prohibited political activities of employees, accepting gifts and lobbying. Contractor and Officer disclosures and conflicts of interest should be outlined, as well as the employment of family members and the use of proprietary information for personal gain. A code of Officer Conduct should be imposed and the document should spell out how and by whom the program would be administered.The Kane County State's Attorney recently made revisions to the County Board's first approved ordinance, stating that the revised version was more aggressive than is required by law and that it is enforceable. I would encourage the County Board to adopt the latest version of the ordinance, especially considering that it is election season. I would hope the County board would request that the county-wide elected officials adopt similar ordinances. My experience as a Village Trustee in West Dundee has taught me that an ordinance is a living document, able to be changed as needed. Once it's established and the effectiveness of the ordinance becomes apparent, reviews should take place to see if further amendments are required.The county's portion of gambling proceeds has been decreasing every year for several years. What is your plan to prioritize use of that money? What might be done to wean the agencies and programs that receive this money off of it?The Riverboat funds are designated for educational, environmental, and economic development projects. In 2011, almost 80% of those funds were allocated to Kane County internal budget for many much-needed, ongoing programs. I would give these programs first priority, making sure that they meet the criteria of the County's mission statement to "protect the health, welfare, and safety of those who live and work in Kane County". I would then apply the same standards to the remaining money allocated for the external projects. With both internal and external requests, I would also be most interested in supporting programs that "enhance or improve organization self-sufficiency and effectiveness", one of the program's stated strategies.Do you believe the Kane County court system needs a computer system upgrade that might cost as much as $12.6 million? If so, do you support using RTA sales tax money to fund the cost, or do you have a different plan? If not, what is your alternative plan?Kane County needs a computer system that works for the entire judiciary system. If the existing system is deemed beyond repair, I would support such a purchase if it would increase efficiency and safety, as well as eventually reduce employee levels in the Clerk's office.Current RTA statutes allow for a portion of the sales tax money to be used for public safety.I would support that use, but it will not cover the full amount.Finding and capitalizing on efficiencies within the Clerk's office should be the first step in funding the remainder of the cost of a new computer system.Do you believe county board members and the chairman should receive health insurance and pension benefits' If you are running for one of those positions, do you plan on accepting those benefits' Why or why not?No, not for part-time positions. I would not accept either benefit. I am fortunate to already have health insurance.Regarding the pension benefit, I think the public sector pension system is broken and I would not choose to add to the taxpayer burden.How do you resolve the ongoing debate over the county board setting budgets for departments run by other elected officials whom the county board has no control over? How should the county board enforce the budgets it sets'Every elected official needs to be held accountable to the public that elects them. If money is required, above and beyond the allocation from the board, the elected official should have to prove to the voters that the cost is worth the additional funds. For example, the Kane county Forest Preserve did so when they went to the voters with their Open Space funding request. One way to do this is for each department to have their own tax levy, but this is impractical. Realistically, the County will have to rely on its own internal controls and processes. A standardized budgeting and decision-making process should be in place; the roles and responsibilities of each position need to be clearly defined, communicated, agreed upon and documented by both the board and the elected officials. Timely, accurate financial data and ?budget to actual? reports need to be provided regularly.Trust needs to be established between the board and the elected officials.First, that the elected officials will request a realistic, justifiable budget, and secondly, that the board will fairly allocate the requested funds. All parties can choose to work together to make Kane County both more functional and transparent.