James Wozny: 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: Des PlainesWebsite: https://www.facebook.com/MaineTownshipDemsOffice sought: Maine Township Board (4-year Terms)Age: 57Family: Divorced one daughterOccupation: Manager at the State of IllinoisEducation: DeVry Major in ManagementCivic involvement: Des Plaines Special Events CommissionElected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoneCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Taxes, Maine Township continues to raise taxes (my bill last year by 17%) and offering duplicate services that are already provided to me by the City of Des Plaines. We need to develop a plan to reduce taxes by working with neighboring cities.Key Issue 2 Raises, In these tough economic times, Maine Township employees received raises the summer when the recession hit and continue to receive them every year. For the next four years, the Maine Township Board just voted in favor of another raise (9/25/2012) in the amount of 12% over the next four years. I will vote no on any additional raises.Key Issue 3 Perks, we need to eliminate the pensions for part time officials. Over the last four years and for the next four, raises have been given to increase the pensions. The only way to pay for them is by raising our taxes. This has to stop.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.1-2-3) Taxes. My taxes on my home were $71.52 in 2008 and are now $112.44 in 2011 that is a whopping 57.2 % increase for the three lines of Maine Township. The incumbents claim to have balanced their budgets but at what expense? If my checkbook increased by that amount, I would have no issues balancing my checkbook. We need to look at what grants that are now available to fix the info structure, look at duplicate services that neighbors supply and stop all the unnecessary pay raises. I am a manager for the State and have not received a raise in three years.In the 21st Century, with municipalities gobbling up vacant land, why are townships needed? Should they be serving a new role? If so, what?In the case of Maine Township, it will take a long time to fix the property's to be annexed by the neighboring towns. There has been no movement on making this a reality. The new role of the Township is to start making the properties more attractive to annex.What should be the primary responsibility of township government?In the case of Maine Township even if or when all properties are annexed, the surrounding area is so heavily populated some of their services will still be needed.In these hard economic times, can you identify some township expenses/programs that could be trimmed or eliminated to reduce the tax burden?Pensions for part time elected officials. Eliminate duplicate services supplied by neighboring towns. Eliminate unnecessary raises.What specific background or experience do you bring that makes you the best qualified candidate to serve as an elected official in the township?Worked in the Private industry for over over 23 years. Experience as a District Sales manager overseeing 10,000,000 budgets. Currently working in the Government industry. Manager with the State of Illinois for over 3 years. FYI, I received the e-mail 45 minutes after it was due.