Cornelius Shanahan: 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: MundeleinWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Fremont Township Board (4-year Terms)Age: 56Family: Married, 1 child / sonOccupation: Retired IL. Dept. Trans. Engineer Tech. Cert. Firearms InstructorEducation: One year of college, Business Admin. majorCivic involvement: Past Boy Scout Troop 388 Scoutmaster, past BSA Venture Crew 388 Adviser, past President of Steeple Chase Homeowners Assoc., current Board Member of Steeple Chase Homeowners Assoc., Current President of Liberty Noon Rotary Club.Elected offices held: Past board member and President of Fremont Township Library 2005 - 2009Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Keep government spending down and still provide needed services to the public.Key Issue 2 To cut back on well intended bureaucracy and government programs that have grown to a point that now they are hurting people and business they were created to help.Key Issue 3 The education and development of youth.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.The Township Board needs to look towards the increasing needs of the large senior population of Fremont Township. While at the same time not increasing the tax burden on the citizens of Fremont Township.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 State of IL. the Township Highway Departments maintain 51% of the public roads, county, village and city governments are not able to pick up that much extra work. Villages are not able to assist people that have fallen on hard times with needed aid.What should be the primary responsibility of township government?To help people that are in dire financial need until they are able to get other assistance or employment.In these hard economic times, can you identify some township expenses/programs that could be trimmed or eliminated to reduce the tax burden?In the past 2 years the tax dollars taken in by Fremont Township has decreased. In the past 20 years the Township has always kept their tax levy down. Past and current Fremont Township Boards have believed in keeping the tax burden low.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 served 32 years in state government service and have seen the waste that government can and should trim. I have also worked in the private sector and have the felt the burdens that government bureaucracy puts on business.