Bruce Toussaint: 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:BioQA Bio City: Lake in the HillsWebsite: www.firetrustees.comOffice sought: Algonquin-LITH Fire Board (6-year Terms)Age: 65Family: Married-5 children-10 grandchildrenOccupation: RetiredEducation: Elementary School: Eastview grade school Algonquin IL High School: Irving Crown High School, Carpentersville, IL; Graduated 1966Higher Education: University of Illinois Police Training Institute, 1974University of Illinois Fire Service Institute, 1990 Various continuing education training courses with the Fire Investigation Strike Force, Tomahawk Fire School (Nicolet Area Technical College), ATF, Illinois State Police, IAAI Cnet trainer.Military Service: U.S. Coast Guard - Active 9/66 to 9/70 Reserve 9/70 to 10/80Civic involvement: Started in 1981 as a volunteer Fire Fighter for ALFPD Elected offices held: NoneHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoQuestions Answers What is your number 1 campaign issue?Economics - Fiscal Responsibility to the tax payers of the fire district without jeopardizing public safety What is your number 2 campaign issue?Maintaining high work place standards and moral - Open forum to employees to discuss issues and/or concernsName 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.Number one goal is to maintain good financial responsibility in the economic tough times we all are going through.To cut excesses spending and hold a balanced budget without jeopardizing public life safety. Provide the highest level of service to the public with the given resources we have. How should the fire protection district improve its servicesImproving the level of training and education for FF is one way to get a higher level of excellence and service to the publicImproving response time to a call, maintaining enough backup resources for the 2nd 3rd call.Are you satisfied with the district's response times? If yes, please explain; if no, please offer your suggestions on how to improve.Response times are good and have always been pushed downward for lower times, while we can get equipment out the door faster, traffic and weather conditions can always give you a curve ball. The real challenge is not so much the first call but the 2nd and 3rd call coming in while still on the 1st call. What specific background or experience do you bring that makes you the best qualified candidate to serve on the fire district board? 26 years as an employee of the fire district, starting as a Firefighter going up through the ranks to becoming the Fire Prevention Bureau Chief, I have seen the district grow from five full time personal and two fire stations responding to about 600 calls a year to 50 full time personal, three stations and over 4500 calls a year.