Warren Dixon: 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.napervilletownshiprepublicans.comOffice sought: Naperville Township Assessor (4-year Term)Age: 39Family: Married to Nicole Dixon with two boys Justin (Naperville North High School) and Logan (6 months old)Occupation: Currently Chief Commercial Deputy Assessor for Lockport Township and a Member of the DuPage County Board since 2001. He has been a managing partner of Dixon Appraisal since 1993. He has also worked for both Aurora and Lisle Township.Education: Graduate of Marmion Military Academy and attended both College of DuPage and Benedictine University.Civic involvement: Warren is a former Director and Head Coach of the Naperville Youth Football League, and coached both Wheatland Little League and Naperville Little League Baseball. He served four years as the Director of Aurora Catholic Special Religious Education Program at St. Mary's Catholic Church and is a current pashioner at St. Thomas the Apostle in Naperville, IL. He is also Republican Precinct Committeeman and on NTRO Executive Committee.Elected offices held: NoneHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 We must provide the top tier of mandated township services in the most efficient, effective and responsible manor. In these tough economic times, the township should look at building stronger relationships with other governmental and service agencies to deliver these services in the most cost efficient way.Key Issue 2 We must continue to improve the use of technology in the Assessors Office for data collection, analysis, and education. This will allow us to continue to increase our level accuracy and fairness in our assessment process, while also providing easier access to residents, other governmental agencies, and the business community.Key Issue 3 We must maintain transparent, accountable, and ethical records through prompt posting of Board meeting schedule, agendas, minutes, and township expenditures. The residents should have easy access and visibility of how the township is operating and how they can provide input.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. Hold flat or reduce the tax levy in each of the next 4 years. The Republican lead Township has done a good job with reducing the tax rate for the last twenty-eight years and cutting the levy the last two years. This will be a continual process of looking at the budget line by line to find more efficient ways of provide the mandated township services in the most cost effective way. 2.Increase the use of technology. We must continue to improve the use of technology in the Assessors Office for data collection, analysis, and education. This will allow us to continue to increase our level accuracy and fairness in our assessment process, while also providing easier access to residents, other governmental agencies, and the business community. Use of onsite data collection through tablet computers with create a more accurate and less time consuming process, freeing up staff for other need analysis. 3. Be fully transparent and adherence to the highest ethical standards. Maintain transparent, accountable, and ethical records through prompt posting of Board meeting schedule, agendas, minutes, and township expenditures to Townships website.In the 21st Century, with municipalities gobbling up vacant land, why are townships needed? Should they be serving a new role? If so, what?I am of the theory that we should conduct or look to conduct the business of the residents of the Township and State in the most cost effective means while providing the quality of services the residents expect and want. My belief of the mission and need for Township Government is based truly on the above statement. Township Government fills a great need and service to residents at a very minimal cost (Look at the Township percentage of your tax bill). I believe in strengthening township government, through providing the most excellent quality of service and electing/hiring officials and staff of the same high quality. However, I do not believe in growing township government by adding services that are not mandated by township code. You cannot provide these mandated services at a cheaper cost at the county or state level per parcel period!!!!!!! It has been researched and studied extensively. You also cannot provide access to the resident at the county level like you do with each of the townships. All you have to do is look to COOK COUNTY for this. I hear it everyday as a township employee. Trust me I have been apart or involved in many state level debates and independent studies over my eighteen-year career. When you hear individuals talk about consolidating the many units of government, they are right. We have 6,994 units of government in Illinois. We should get rid of duplication of services for sure. But the 1,433 Townships in Illinois are not the answer. Township's need to be streamlined not eliminated!!!! Most of those excessive units are cemetery, mosquito abatement district, water districts, ect. And some do not even have taxing authority. In Illinois and DuPage County residents have said they want government closer to the people. Not larger entities. In conclusion on this topic, Townships are needed because they provide assessment offices, which maintains fair and equitable assessments and give residents the access to understand and discuss their property value at a much more personal and cost effective level. They provide general and emergency assistant and direct people to resources through community partnerships faster and more efficient then larger government can. They maintain and service township roads in a more efficient manor. Townships just can respond quicker, more efficiently, and effectively then larger units of government. Townships also operate with little or like Naperville Township NO DEBT! Hard to believe in this state right!! Local democracy is simply less expensive.What should be the primary responsibility of township government?The primary responsibilities, which are mandated by law, should be to assess property, maintain Township roads, and provide general assistance and emergency assistance to those in need. I would look for the board to not expand these services but to look to partner with local service agencies, municipalities, and DuPage County to become even more cost effective while still giving our residents ease of access and responsive delivery of these mandated services.In these hard economic times, can you identify some township expenses/programs that could be trimmed or eliminated to reduce the tax burden?Republican Township Leadership has lowered the tax rate for the last twenty-eight years and cut the levy for the 2nd consecutive year. The Township operates on a very efficient budget and yearly expenditures have been at or below budget. The Township will be abating collected taxes this year. Also, Naperville Township Elected Officials salaries are the lowest of all nine DuPage County Townships. I would look at the Township to continue to lead and look at ways to provide quality services in the most efficient wayWhat specific background or experience do you bring that makes you the best qualified candidate to serve as an elected official in the township?I have 18 years of real estate appraisal and assessment experience. I am currently the chief commercial deputy assessor for Lockport Township and a Member of the DuPage County Board since 2001. I have been a managing partner and appraiser of Dixon Appraisal since 1993. I have also worked for both Aurora Township and Lisle Township as a deputy commercial and residential assessor. I hold an active Certified Illinois Assessing Officer (C.I.A.O.) designation since 2000. I am a member of the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) and currently Secretary of the Will County Assessor's Association.Myself and my wife Nicole (Rodriguez) Dixon, have been residents of the Aurora/Naperville area all our lives. We have two children, Justin, and Logan. We have a strong understanding of our community needs and an even stronger commitment and love for both Aurora and Naperville.