Laura Lambrecht: 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: Highland ParkWebsite: http://www.LauraLambrecht.comOffice sought: Lake County board District 11Age: 51Family: ? 51 years old ? Divorced ? Raised my children essentially on my own. ? My eldest daughter Brittany D?Arcy graduated from HPHS (?06) ? My youngest Elizabeth D?Arcy graduated from HPHS (?08)Occupation: ? IT professional currently working in Cloud Services at ATT for 12 years.Education: ? B.S. in Physics from American University, Washington D.C. ? Six Sigma Green Belt Certified (a process improvement methodology and ultimately saves money)Civic involvement: ? AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization) board member ? 3 years ? District 113?s Education First initiative ? Moraine Township Republican Precinct Woman ? Help friends with housing issues/rental issues/find jobsElected offices held: None. I?m proud of my 16+ years Fortune 100 work experience and ability to apply a private sector mentality to the County Board. To date, I am the only candidate in our district who has taken the time to attend county board meetings and hear about issues and visit with staff and board members. There were several issues where I have expertise that could benefit Lake County Government particularly in the areas of IT and public safety.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 I?d like to see Lake County Government continue to stretch out our tax dollars through careful spending, consolidations and prioritizing of services and needs. Lake County is run well, but there is always room for improvement. I?m happy to report that Lake County has a AAA bond rating and I will strive to maintain that rating in the future.Key Issue 2 Look into consolidating the functions of the Lake County Recorder of Deeds office into the Lake County Clerk?s office. It?s already been successfully done in 86 counties across Illinois - It?s been tested and it worked. Given the digital revolution, the manual processes of the Recorder of Deeds have been improved dramatically. This could save the taxpayers money and free up precious office space that could be used by other departments.Key Issue 3 I want to be sure that we preserve and conserve our environment so that generations to come will be able to enjoy Lake County as we do. We are on this planet for a brief moment in time, I want to be sure that we hand off to the next generation a sustainable ecosystem. The Lake County Forest Preserve System must be strengthened for the benefit of generations to come.Questions Answers Now that golf at Fort Sheridan is a dead issue, what types of amenities should be added to the site?The Forest Preserve at Fort Sheridan is a beautiful, serene location. The view of Lake Michigan is incredible. Amenities should be limited to walking trails, benches and rest areas. We should strive to keep this lakefront property in as natural a state as possible. It is unfortunate that the Golf Course was removed, from all accounts it was beloved.What, if any, new ethics-related rules are needed for the county board and county staff?Employees and elected officials should be required to take periodic courses in ethics.Government transparency has been an important issue in recent years. Name one thing the county government or forest preserve district should do to improve transparency.The county budget and all expenditures should be posted on the County website on a department by department basis, including the forest preserve district. The costs associated with such a disclosure in this computer age should be minimal. We can include checks issued and copies of invoices that were submitted for payment. Such open accounting practices can assist in finding waste or duplicative services. It will also give taxpayers and citizens of Lake County the opportunity to see their County Government in action.Should the forest district use eminent domain to acquire the land needed for the final link in the Des Plaines River Trail? Why or why not? If your answer is no, how should officials go about acquiring that land sooner than later?Eminent domain should always be the last resort in any property acquisitions by government. Such action should only take place after all good faith negotiations are exhausted. Emphasis at the present time should be on professional property evaluations to educate both the County and property owners of the true value of the real estate sought.What will be the biggest issue facing the county over the next decade, and how do you propose dealing with it?The State of Illinois? continued mismanagement and fiscal insolvency is having a larger impact on local governments each year. The State has taken revenue streams away while forcing unfunded mandates on the County. As they continue to pass the buck and shirk responsibilities, the county will have to deal with the repercussions. Lake County needs to also seriously review the current infrastructure under its jurisdiction including space issues at the County Courthouse. We will need to invest in the future of Lake County by expansion of the courthouse or the building of a new one. Other county departments are scattered in various locations in buildings that often do not serve the county well. Investments in roads, efficient facilities and other infrastructure that will have a lasting value to the county should be a priority in the next 10 years.