Chuck Kern: 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://wheatlandgop2013Office sought: Wheatland Township Supervisor (4-year Term)Age: 55Family: married to Martha, two grown sonsOccupation: Self employed manufacturers representativeEducation: BS University of Illinois 1979Civic involvement: Served several terms on the High Meadow Homeowners Association Board of Directors. Also served on School District 204 Citizens Advisory Committee and as a precinct committeeman for a number of years.Elected offices held: Wheatland Township Clerk - 2009-present. Republican Precinct Committeeman for 10 years. Former Vice Chair - Wheatland Township Republican Org.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: only traffic offensesCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Providing tax relief to our Wheatland homeowners by spending down the current surplus and reducing tax levy to zero for next year.Key Issue 2 Pensions need to be eliminated for all township officials.Key Issue 3 Bringing term limits to Wheatland Township. One or two terms is enough and our Wheatland GOP candidates are committed to that.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.Reduce the tax burden on the public by eliminating the town fund levy for 2014. The board also needs to put a market price on the vacant land and surplus building it needs to sell off as the taxpayers have directed.It can also reduce operating costs by consolidating the township offices with the Highway Department.In the 21st Century, with municipalities gobbling up vacant land, why are townships needed? Should they be serving a new role? If so, what?Township government may have outlived it's usefulness in certain urban ares, such as Cook County.What should be the primary responsibility of township government?Providing General Assistance, assessing property and maintaining of roads. Any other activities need to be limited.In these hard economic times, can you identify some township expenses/programs that could be trimmed or eliminated to reduce the tax burden?Yes, privatizing our transportation program would be one. We could save approaching 50% on our costs by using a private carrier.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 have been heavily involved in most aspects of the township business for the last four years. I have seen what works and what doesn't. In addition, as a small business owner, I know what types of struggles people are going through in these tough economic times. We need to do more with less. And we need to listen to and serve the people.