Mike Jennings: 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: Lake ZurichWebsite: http://www.elareform.orgOffice sought: Ela Township Board (4-year Terms)Age: 55Family: Married 32 years, 2 grown children.Occupation: Firefighter/paramedic, Village of Skokie; also owner of Mike Jennings LandscapingEducation: Studied fire science technology at College of Lake County; also earned paramedic license.Civic involvement: Formerly on Building Board, St. Peter's UCC; was appointed trustee, Lake Zurich Rural Fire Protection District.Elected offices held: None.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Reduce taxes: We need to start collecting only as much in taxes as Ela Township needs to operate, with a small reserve for emergencies. Currently Ela Township collects more taxes than it needs to operate. That needs to stop.Key Issue 2 Focus on needy: As a firefighter/paramedic, I often work with people who have lost everything and are left to struggle with continued financial and physical needs. Ela Township should focus more on providing a much higher level of service to those in need.Key Issue 3 Transparency and Accountability: Ela Township should operate transparently and with a responsibility to inform the people of what they are doing. People should be able to easily find out what the township is doing with their tax dollars at any given time.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 most important goals are 1) to create a realistic budget based on real needs of the township; 2) enhance programs for the needy; 3) continuously look for ways to become more efficient and cost effective.In the 21st Century, with municipalities gobbling up vacant land, why are townships needed? Should they be serving a new role? If so, what?Beyond what they are required to do by law, the main thing townships can do is to help our villages carry out their responsibilities for road maintenance and helping the needy. The township has the equipment and manpower that villages can't afford to buy. Township government should encourage more cooperation and coordination between governments, to save money overall.What should be the primary responsibility of township government?By law, the township is responsible for assessing property values, maintaining roads and bridges in unincorporated areas like my neighborhood, and helping the needy with emergency assistance. Beyond that, our primary responsibility is only to spend money on real township needs.In these hard economic times, can you identify some township expenses/programs that could be trimmed or eliminated to reduce the tax burden?Every program should be examined to make sure that it is being operated efficiently. I?d start with a look at overtime and reimbursements for elected officials. But what really needs to be trimmed are excessive amounts being budgeted for every department, which means that much more taxes are currently being collected than the township really needs.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 understand how important it is to help people who need help. As a firefighter/paramedic, I am sworn to save people's lives. I do that work because I care and I believe that I can make a difference. I will bring that caring to the job as Ela Township trustee. My work has also given me 25 years of experience in local government. And I?ve owned a business for 20 years, and so I understand the importance of budgeting and keeping costs down.