Penny Wegman: 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: ElginWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Kane County Board District 20Age: 36Family: Candidate did not respond.Occupation: Student Loan CoordinatorEducation: Missouri State University B.S in Political ScienceCivic involvement: Formerly on Image Advisory Commission - City of ElginElected offices held: Gail Borden Public Library Trustee Kane County Regional School Board Trustee - PresidentHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Cut spending - doing more with lessKey Issue 2 Fiscal transparencyKey Issue 3 Responsible growthQuestions 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?A strong ethics ordinance is only as good as the enforcement of it. To put an ordinance in place with no teeth has no merit. Most of the ethical questions seem to arise from the County's vendors providing contributions to elected officials. Placing a ban on such contributions would be a good start.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?Grants generally do not provide for salaries. They are to assist in education and development. In providing grants, the County should get back to providing necessary services, not pet projects.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?The circuit clerk needs to upgrade the technology. It is not comprehensible that we have spent $90,000 for an RFP to find out what kind of systems are available for $12M. An RFP generally provides the specs for the project and the vendors come back with pricing per the specs. In this case, the vendors already know what the county is contemplating spending. Additionally, the county already has a great records management system in the Recorder's Office. This system could be modified to meet the needs of the circuit clerk while giving the other departments the ability to interface with the system. This could be done more cost effectively than $12M.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?Pension benefits for the county board members are optional. Members contribute 4%, after 8 years they are vested and the county matches the contribution. As far as the health benefits, board members should have to pay the same premiums as other employees. Additionally, as an incentive for board members to attend meetings, per diems should be reinstated and salaries should be decreased. I would not participate in either the pension or health benefit.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'The county board will consist of not only new board members but a new board chairman. Perhaps everyone can refocus on taking care of business that is mandated first instead of taking care or earmarks and then whatever is left over becomes the pot for the elected officials. I think everyone will make an effort to work within budget as long as they are treated fairly.