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Donna Radke: Candidate Profile

Warren Township Board (4-year Terms) (Independent)

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: WildwoodWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Warren Township Board (4-year Terms)Age: 69Family: Married with 2 living children; Jennifer who works with me, Bill who lives in Arizona and one daughter Michelle in heaven.Occupation: Real Estate Managing Broker for RE/MAX CenterEducation: Some college, many courses in real estate. I have extensive learning in real estate such as: CRS (Certified Residential Specialist), GRI (Graduate of Real Estate Institute), SRES (Senior Real Estate Specialist), SFR (Short Sale, Foreclosure Speci), CDPECivic involvement: Board member of Mainstreet Realtor Organization; Past President of Lake County Association of Realtors; Treasurer of Homeowners Organization of Wildwood, Current Warren Township Trustee, Committee Member of the Holiday Basket promotion which is done each year. Co Chairperson along with my daughter Jennifer for the annual Michelle Radke Benefit for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.Elected offices held: See Civic Involvement above for all those positions were elected positions. I also was President of the Homeowners Organization of Wildwood.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Actually working with Special Recreation has always been something that I feel necessary. With this in mind, working with other government bodies to make sure our community has the best services available to those in need and yet at the lowest cost for all our citizens.Key Issue 2 To make sure that all our community knows where their dollars go and that they are getting full benefit of the wonderful things we have to offer without duplicating what other government agencies can do. Transparency is very important during these times of mistrust.Key Issue 3 Make sure all families and all ages have a voice in programming and what works for our community. We have really done a wonderful job in working with the teens making sure that they have places to go and enjoy what the township offers. This needs to be continued.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.We need to make sure that the entire township receives benefit from the township board. Our township is very large and covers a great area. The road district is always on top of the weather and this needs to be kept up. Our seniors need to have a place for gathering and at costs affordable for all. And we need to keep a watch on our grounds that they are cared for years to come.In the 21st Century, with municipalities gobbling up vacant land, why are townships needed? Should they be serving a new role? If so, what?The services that township government will not be duplicated even if township government is disolved. The state just doesn't have the money to do what we do and neither does the county. The money the tax payers are paying will not be reduced but the services they currently enjoy will be gone. In Warren Township 35% of the people are in unincorporated areas and would not have these services were it not for the township.What should be the primary responsibility of township government?The responsiblity of township government is simple....give the same quality services keeping the tax dollar from the community as low as possible. Each year we make sure that our budget is on time and "balanced" (what a concept). We look at each item brought before us and either bid out, reject or know exactly why and how it benefits.In these hard economic times, can you identify some township expenses/programs that could be trimmed or eliminated to reduce the tax burden?I actually do not know of any services that we offer which are not needed or should be cut. We take care of our senior, our small children and our teens. We offer counseling to families, we have sports programs to help our youth learn sportsmanship and how to learn to live a full and honest life. Our grounds are always used and we are always hearing about how thankful our citizens are that we have what we have.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 lived in Wildwood since 1980, been involved as a parent, business person and have used our services throughout my life. I feel that my experiences living here and actually serving as your Trustee since 1992 make me an excellent candidate for the next term. Running a family and my real estate career (no regular salary) I know budgeting and where cuts are needed to cut. I do not take the tax dollars of our citizens lightly.