Charles "Charlie" Schneider: 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: NapervilleWebsite: http://www.ElectSchneider.comOffice sought: DuPage Forest Preserve District 5Age: 50Family: Married 32-years to my prom sweetheart, Charlotte. We have one daughter, Christine.Occupation: Executive with netHARBOR, an Information Technology Security firm that secures computer networks against unauthorized access and provides expert subject matter investigation relevant to technology crimes.Education: AM -- Aviation / PilotCivic involvement: ? Illinois State Crime Commission -- Board Member, Chair of Technology Crimes -- The Meadows Homeowner's Association -- President -- Our Saviours Lutheran Church -- Technology Team, Communion Server Lector -- Lisle Township Food PantryElected offices held: None.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Make our beautiful forest preserve more accessible by utilizing our existing computer systems in an efficient manner to provide desired services to residents and reduce the staff's work load. This will save taxpayers $1.2 million during my first term in office.I will fill the technology void that exists on the Forest Preserve board.Key Issue 2 Get a handle on expenses! I'm a strong fiscal conservative. I'll treat your money like it's my own -- and I'm NOT a spendthrift!It's my money too.I don't have a problem approving something as long one can demonstrate to the board that it provides a realistic value or desired service and that it's not a simply one of those nice to haves.Key Issue 3 Career politicians that abuse us and take advantage of the system. To state that ALL career politicians cause abuse would be wrong.I'm going out on a limb by with what I'm about share with you.Some may call me an apple slinger.As the story goes'?When an apple hangs around too long in the forest preserve it starts to rot.Our once crisp "District 5 Apple" has been sitting in the drawer for over 10 years admiring his shinny awards, getting re-elected, telling other gardeners in the Forest Preserve that he knows more about the apple trees then they do.He comes out of the drawer and sits in the boardroom on some Tuesdays and speaks of the harvest.Not long ago, the apple decided he was doing such a wonderful job that he voted in his own pay raise; $57,000 a year for working less than part-time, while filling his cup with pension juice.Is it time to make applesauce? I'm an executive, running for an executive-level board position. I'm not a professional gardener; they have plenty of those. I'll self-limit myself to 2-terms.I'll never vote for my own salary increase.I'll vote to reduce our salary and to eliminate the board's pensions.Questions Answers Do you support continuing the effort to acquire County Lakes Golf Club in Naperville? Why or why not?I don't have enough information to form an answer to this question.As a fellow resident, I'm frustrated trying to get straight answers to my questions from the Forest Preserve. Filing requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) has me walking into a brick wall because they won't share what is discussed in 'closed session' meetings.You can bet that I'll be making this more transparent!Should the district be in the golf course business' If so, please explain the benefit. If not, please detail why. Should the district consider selling any of its holdings'No matter what the issue, as an executive, I ask, 'Do the benefits outweigh the cost?'You'll find your answer. Addressing the other part of this question; every aspect of the Forest Preserve should be considered. In the case of selling real property which is what I think this question is eluding to, the owner of which the Forest Preserve procured the property from shall have the first right of refusal to (re)purchase the property for the same price the Forest Preserve paid the owner to acquire it.This should help to keep matters more balanced.Comment on the forest preserve's current land acquisition policy: Too aggressive? Too passive? Just right?From my position as a resident looking in, it appears that the Forest Preserve's land acquisition policy is more like the flavor of the month club, lacking uniformity across the board. Consistency needs to be established.Like it or not, there's hardly any more land available for the Forest Preserve to acquire in the county.Since acquiring land makes up a large chunk of our tax bill, I will, if elected, recommend that we reduce the Forest Preserve portion of our real estate tax bill we pay as residents.