Michael Formento: 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: Glen EllynWebsite: http://mikeformento.comOffice sought: DuPage Forest Preserve District 4Age: 77Family: Married to wife Karin 47 years, five children David, Sara,Danny,Gabrielle,Angela, 10 Grand ChildrenOccupation: Executive Director Glen Ellyn Chamber of CommerceEducation: Graduate Ray Vogue School of Interior Design raduateCivic involvement: Chairman, Jaycee's Scholarship Fund Chairman Fair Exposition Authority Knights of Columbus - Life MemberElected offices held: Village President Glen Ellyn (1981 - 1989 DuPage County Board (1989 - 2002) Forest Preserve Commissioner (1989 - 2002) Forest Preserve Commissioner (2006 - presentHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: noCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 I don't view this campaign as focusing on individual points of conflict. I see it more as setting positive goals and creating the consensus needed to achieve them. So, we need to maintain the District's financial stability and the remarkable AAA bond rating it has earned. We must also continue to provide a high level of service to DuPage residents without increasing their taxes.Key Issue 2 Other extremely important goals are stated in the District's mission statement: Conservation, education and the recreational enjoyment of DuPage residents. These aims need creative and transparent attention to specific projects, proposals and plans as they emerge. I believe I have contributed that kind of diligence during my service as Commissioner and will naturally continue to do so.Key Issue 3 I would like the District to serve as a prime example of being 'green? in all of its varied operations whether its buildings, grounds maintenance or vehicles. While we have made great strides in becoming eco-friendly, we should make this one of our prime aims. For instance, all District vehicles should be pollution resistant. Conservation should be an important factor in the choice of energy sources. We should preach conservation and we can do that best by teaching by example.Questions Answers Do you support continuing the effort to acquire County Lakes Golf Club in Naperville? Why or why not?The District has been acting in good faith in its attempt to acquire Country Club Lakes golf course -- an attempt that's been in litigation since 1998. A recent Illinois Supreme Court ruling has changed the law putting the District in a position of non-compliance and has brought us to a decision point: We have to pay potentially double the original $10 million plus cost or we can drop the litigation and forego the acquisition. If we drop the acquisition we still have to pay the fees of the attorneys, possibly amounting to a $1 million. Briefly, I think we ought to agree to pay the legal fees and use the $10 million to pursue other land acquisition projects.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'Look, the District has found operating golf and banqueting operations to be extremely unprofitable, draining our budget. We just don't have the necessary expertise to continue a business that is so vulnerable to economic downturns. While using golf course land for storm water retention purposes and open space makes good sense, attempting to turn it to practical and paying recreational use doesn't.We are legally restricted from selling the land.Comment on the forest preserve's current land acquisition policy: Too aggressive? Too passive? Just right?We've met urgent acquisition needs through the funds made available in the 2006 referendum and now dropping the Country Club Lakes acquisition should put another $10 million at our disposal if any urgent needs are identified. I regard the District's acquisition policies as appropriate for current circumstances.