John Morrissey: 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: ElmhurstWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: York Township Board (4-year Terms)Age: 62Family: Married to Pam for nineteen years and we have two children.Occupation: Retired, Former Product Manager in Heavy Equipment IndustryEducation: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, University of Illinois Chicago, 1976 Masters of Science in Industrial Relations, Loyola University Chicago, 1993Civic involvement: York Township Trustee York Township Youth Advisory Board 2005 - Trustee, Elmhurst Library 2011 - 2012 U.S. Marine Corps - Vietnam, Received the Combat Action Ribbon Religious Ed Volunteer at Visitation Parish, Elmhurst Elmhurst Airborne Basketball Friends of the Elmhurst Library York High School Athletic Boosters American Legion Veterans of Foreign Wars Adjutant Treasurer, DuPage Chapter of the Disabled American VeteransElected offices held: Republican Committeeman, York Township, 2002 -Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Taking care of residents. Continue to provide services for our senior's: transportation and energy programs, nutrition and health programs, entertainment and informational events. Maintain our General Assistance program and our Food Pantry for those in need and police protection for our residents. Provide youth programs for township kids.Key Issue 2 Fiscal Responsibility. Continue to take out costs from budget, manage expenses and continue to keep taxes low.Key Issue 3 Transparency and Outreach. Post Board Announcements, Agenda, Levy and Budgetary Ordinances on the township's website. Create a portal on the website to have information available in Spanish. Develop a veterans assistance program.Questions Answers Name the three most important goals or objectives this board should tackle in the coming term. Prioritize them, and briefly discuss why you believe each to be critical, and how the board should go about addressing them.1. Maintain our services for all township residents. We provide transportation and nutrition services to residents who may not otherwise have access to them. 2. Provide these services in a fiscally responsible manner that seeks to take out costs from the township's operations and limits the need to raise taxes on our residents. 3. Provide up-to-date financial and tax levy information on our website. Create an on-line portal - in Spanish to assists our residents in seeking help.In the 21st Century, with municipalities gobbling up vacant land, why are townships needed? Should they be serving a new role? If so, what?1. York Township, daily, provides meals, transportation and financial assistance that is not "picked-up" by our municipalities or would put additional demands on municipal services. 2. These humanitarian services do not need to be expanded but continually improved to support our residents. 3. York Township residents living in unincorporated areas continue to need police protection and road maintenance services.What should be the primary responsibility of township government?Our primary responsibility is providing care for those in the township: seniors, youth and those who are struggling financially. The services listed above and along with road maintenance, police protection and equitable assessment of property are the primary reasons the townships were formed and remain effective for all the residents of York Township.In these hard economic times, can you identify some township expenses/programs that could be trimmed or eliminated to reduce the tax burden?York Township has been pro-active in this area. In 2012 we took steps, again, to reduce our budget. We have kept our township budget "flat" for the past eight years. We seek volunteers to help us provide services as well as contributions from various entities to reduce our costs.What specific background or experience do you bring that makes you the best qualified candidate to serve as an elected official in the township?I am currently a Trustee. I understand the role of township government and how we affect people's lives. I am also familiar with the budget and the process in which it is implemented. Both in this position and as an Elmhurst Public Library Trustee I have been active in limiting tax increases and asking our public employees to be more efficient in what they do so to get the best value for the tax payers and residents.