James Heisler: 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: Crystal LakeWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: McHenry County board District 2Age: 71Family: Married 2 Children, 2 step children, 4 step grandchildren.Occupation: Owner, 2 retail shoe stores.Education: Bachelor of Music Education, American Conservatory of Music, 1964.Civic involvement: Crystal Lake Chamber Ambassadors, C.L.Chamber of Commerce, C.L. Preservation Commission, C.L. Historical Society, Downtown Association, C.L. Community Band.Elected offices held: McHenry County Board 1992- PresentHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 To help educate the voter on how bad the Executive Form of Government is. It gives one person way to much power- a czar, if you will- and sets up a government ripe for corruption possibilities.Key Issue 2 Advocate at the committee level and at the board level for a lower levy than last year. Be a firm example to all other taxing bodies to do the same. NO EXCUSES. "Less is more."Key Issue 3 Shop locally. On-line shopping doesn't help your local community. Shop McHenry County first. If you can't find it in McHenry County, you don't need it!Questions Answers McHenry County has managed the recession without a budgetary crisis like those in other counties. How do you ensure the county continues on that path and that reserves aren?t depleted? Are there specific budget areas that need more attention?McHenry County's budget process is very thorough and starts early in the year. It's thought out and talked out with the goal of no last minute changes and no spending more than last year's levy. For me, work toward less spending. During this "Great Recession", it means a lot to retain a AAA bond rating, topping any other county our size in the USA. Continued enhanced financial reporting and analysis to the board will ensure future sound decisions.Does the McHenry County Board have a good transportation improvement plan? Please be specific and suggest whether you think anything is missing or should be scrapped.Yes, the County Department of Transportation has a good annual Highway Improvement Program and a five year H.I.P. Each has been aligned with appropriate revenue expectations and fund balances. Customer service and communications have been improved and noted by citizen and municipalities with good attendance at open house public input meetings.Does the county need to address its ethics policies? Why or why not? If so, how?We have addressed our ethics policies. Transparency has been the goal. Just a few examples include our new clear agenda management software program and web casting the audio streaming of Board meetings. The Board's Rules and Ethics Policy will be reviewed in regards to County Board Election of Chairman, and term limits.Assess McHenry County?s efforts thus far in terms of groundwater preservation and protection. What needs to be done now and in the future?Water is the common denominator to the habitation of McHenry County. It is even more evident in a drought. Groundwater is all we have. Drilling more wells for more water isn't enough. To help protect our valuable groundwater is to insist on no building of any kind on our watersheds. The stricter standards in overlapping jurisdiction must prevail. Let's keep our water clean and not send it downstream.Assess how the county health department approached the whooping cough outbreak. What should have been done differently?The Health Department handled the ineffective early whooping cough vaccine effectively and thoroughly with a replacement offered to the public. Especially in working with our school systems.