Gary Thompson: 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: WaucondaWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Wauconda Township Board (4-year Terms)Age: 61Family: Wife Cheryl, Daughters Melissa(Mark Drolen) Megan (Brad Zapalowski)4 grandchildren Madison, Cayden, Carter, and Isabelle.Occupation: President GT Components Inc. Independent Manufactures Representative organization.Education: Eureka Collage, American Management Association, Society of Plastic Engineers, Society of Plastics Industry.Civic involvement: Past member Wauconda Zoning board of appeals, Six years President of Wauconda District 118 School Board, 4 Years and current Trustee Wauconda Township. Member of the Wauconda Moose.Elected offices held: Wauconda Township Trustee Wauconda District 118 school board 2 terms.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NOCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Maintaining a balanced budget for the Township.Key Issue 2 I would like to add recreational property in the Township such as baseball, football and soccer fields. Establish a intergovernmental agreement with the villages and athletic programs which would allow them to use the fields and not charge Township residence the out of district participation fee.Key Issue 3 Continue to reduce the tax rate to the Township.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 or reduce tax rate.In these economical times I think it is the responsibility of all elected official at every level to reduce the cost of government. If we do so the dollars can be put back into the peoples pockets. Then they would be able to spend those dollars in the market place and stimulate the economic growth. 2. Purchase land for development.The market is at low rate at this time. Land availability is being reduced. Now is the time to purchase the land for future use. 3. Maintain and improve senior services. As the Boomer Generation is now getting into the senior citizen stage, It is even more important that these services are provided. As this group is living longer and even more active then past generations, it is important that we modify our services to meet the needs which will best suit all senior groups.In the 21st Century, with municipalities gobbling up vacant land, why are townships needed? Should they be serving a new role? If so, what?Land purchase does not define Township services. At Wauconda we work as partners with all (5)villages within the Township to provide needed services. If the Township were not available, this would create additional burdens on the individual villages that are already in tight financial situations. Road services would have to be taken over by individual towns or the county which would increase response times for snow plowing and road work needed. Senior services would not have the programs and facilities currently being offered.What should be the primary responsibility of township government?Maintain a Balance and responsible budget. Provide appropriate services for our seniors. Maintain the road system to a safe level. Provide tax assistance to our tax base.In these hard economic times, can you identify some township expenses/programs that could be trimmed or eliminated to reduce the tax burden?We are continually looking at our internal spending. Last year alone, we were able to reduce our insurance cost by $90,000 per year and at the same time provide current levels of coverage. We also change our policy to add contributions from our employees to further reduce these costs.We need to continue to pursue available grants from state and federal governments to reduce the local burden to support programs and improvements.What specific background or experience do you bring that makes you the best qualified candidate to serve as an elected official in the township?My business background has given me the ability to evaluate spending based on a common sense approach as to what is fiscally responsible. I have lived in this community all my life and have a good feeling as to the wants and needs of this Township.