James Mitchell: 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: LindenhurstWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Lake Villa Library Board (6-year Terms)Age: 69Family: Married 4 grown children, two married 3 grand childrenOccupation: Water Plant Operator, City of Highland Park MILITARY SERVICE United States Navy 7/67 - 6/74 HONORABLY DISCHARGEDEducation: EDUCATION Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Ill 9/01 - 5/03 School of Allied Health Professions, Enrolled in Master of Public Health Program Completed 18 hrs towards degree College of Lake County, Grayslake, Ill 9/91 - 12/00 ConcentrationCivic involvement: COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Friends of the Lake Villa Public Library District: President 3/01-9/05, responsible for rebuilding membership, correcting non-for-profit status with federal and state agencies, established Foundation, organized used book sale, created several programs to improve community image. College of Lake County: Member Student Senate as Senator school years 96/97, 97/98 and 00/01, elected Treasurer, Student Body for school year 98/99, elected Student Body President for school year 99/00, CLC Representative to Student Advisory Committee of the Illinois Board of Higher Education 97-01; Chm Academic Affairs Sub-Committee of the Executive Board Member 99-01; active in several other CLC campus activities. Mallard Ridge Estates Homeowners Association President: 4/93 4/97. Adult leader: Boy Scout Troop 190, 95 - 00; Coach Youth Iceless Hockey Association, 4/94 4/98; Coach, Lindenhurst Youth Soccer League 9/93 6/98.Elected offices held: MUNICIPAL EXPERIENCE Lake County Regional Board Of Education 1/02 - Present Re-elected to new 6 year term 4/07 5/13 Lake Villa District Library 5/91 - 2/03 Elected to a new term of 6 years 4/07 6/13 Lake County Board Member 1/89 - 12/90 Lake County Forest Preserve District 1/89 - 12/90 Fort Sheridan Commission 4/89 - 12/90 Illinois Pre-White House Conference Delegate 4/90 - 12/90 Prepared statewide and national library goals for 21st century Lake County Board Member 7/84 - 12/86 Lake County Forest Preserve District 7/84 - 12/86 Union Drainage District 2/80 - 9/87 President of a three member board 9/82-9/87 Highland Park Mosquito Abatement District 3/78 - 7/85 President of a three member board 3/81-7/85 West Deerfield Township Trustee 5/81 - 7/84Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Following Illinois law as it relates to financial transparency. Our business manager has failed to do this. GENERAL PROVISIONS (5 ILCS 120/) Open Meetings Act. (5 ILCS 120/7.3) Sec. 7.3. Duty to post information pertaining to benefits offered through the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund. (a) Within 6 business days after an employer participating in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund approves a budget, that employer must post on its website the total compensation package for each employee having a total compensation package that exceeds $75,000 per year. If the employer does not maintain a website, the employer must post a physical copy of this information at the principal office of the employer. If an employer maintains a website, it may choose to post a physical copy of this information at the principal office of the employer in lieu of posting the information directly on the website; however, the employer must post directions on the website on how to access that information. (b) At least 6 days before an employer participating in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund approves an employee's total compensation package that is equal to or in excess of $150,000 per year, the employer must post on its website the total compensation package for that employee. If the employer does not maintain a website, the employer shall post a physical copy of this information at the principal office of the employer. If an employer maintains a website, it may choose to post a physical copy of this information at the principal office of the employer in lieu of posting the information directly on the website; however, the employer must post directions on the website on how to access that information. (c) For the purposes of this Section, "total compensation package" means payment by the employer to the employee for salary, health insurance, a housing allowance, a vehicle allowance, a clothing allowance, bonuses, loans, vacation days granted, and sick days granted. (Source: P.A. 97-609, eff. 1-1-12.)Key Issue 2 Post on the library website any document that we produce such as but not limited to: budget and levy ordinances; annual financial audit; meeting minutes; polices; procedures; etc. Any document that an individual would be entitled to obtain without having to FOIA to get. These documents should be available from our website.Key Issue 3 To reach an intergovernmental agreement with all grade school districts in Lake Villa Township to provide library type services at the school between the hours of 7 am and 7 pmQuestions Answers Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you, and if so, what is it?The library district has almost $19,000,000 of the taxpayer's money in the bank. I am not in favor of adding on to the present site with this money because advances in technology do not support an addition. We should have discussions with the Lake County Forest Preserve District to evaluate a joint facility at the Weber Duck Farm that would be more energy efficient than our current site. LCFPD could expand the outdoor education and cultural offerings that they offer into this area of the county. The current facility could be repurposed as a business hub: becoming the new home for the Lindenhurst/Lake Villa Chamber of Commerce; as an incubator resource for home based businesses; and a commerce development center for LV Township and NW Lake CountyIf you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us of important initiatives you've led. If you are a non-incumbent, tell us what special contributions you could make.Reworked the meeting agenda to provide two opportunities for the public to participate. Promoted hiking and biking to your local library which resulted in bike path consideration and development in the township. Revitalized the Friends of Lake Villa District Library. Worked with the Chamber of Commerce to have welcome wagon style bags for new patrons. By laws and policy revisions. I promote open and honest, transparent government.Do you have a library card? How long have you had it? How often do you use it?Yes. Once a monthSpace is usually an issue at libraries. If that's the case at your library, would your solution be to expand the physical plant or make room by doing away with parts of the collection that technology has made less critical? Explain.No. Create a branch library concept at all of the local grade schools.What impact have economic and technological changes had on libraries? How does a library remain relevant? How should its role in the community change?We are evaluating some aspects of that relevance at this time thru our staff marketing committee. Our role in the community should change by becoming more interactive at the board level with the other municipal entities in the township.