Jerry Murphy: 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: Sugar GroveWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Sugar Grove Township Community House Board (4-year Terms)Age: 61Family: Married, wife is Polly Murphy. Two adult children, Erin and Kevin.Occupation: Executive Director for the INC Board, NFP, the local mental health authority for seven townships of southern Kane County.Education: BS from UW_Parkside in Kenosha WI. Certificate in Nonprofit Management from North Park University. Working on Masters of Public Administration from Keller Graduate School (anticipated completion in 2013).Civic involvement: Currently serve on the SG Twp. Community Building Board of Trustees. Former member and president of the SG Lions Club. Former volunteer at Blazing Prairie Stars Equine Stables. Volunteer for various nonprofits in area at fundraisers, etc.Elected offices held: Appointed to SG Community Building Board of Trustees in April, 2012.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: N/ACandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Ensuring the financial stability of the SG Community Building and making its use available to township residents.Key Issue 2 Candidate did not respond.Key Issue 3 Candidate did not respond.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.Financial security. Competent management. Maximize usage of community treasure.In the 21st Century, with municipalities gobbling up vacant land, why are townships needed? Should they be serving a new role? If so, what?Towenshipos are very much needed because they literally are the unit of government closest to the people and can respond to local needs. They serves seniors, children and take care of the roads. They also administer General Assistance for our most disadvantaged and do the local assessments of property. They also levy the local mental health (798) lax lavy here in southern Kane County, providing services to over 15,000 residents each year that probably would not get services provided by the state.What should be the primary responsibility of township government?See above. These are all very necessary services.In these hard economic times, can you identify some township expenses/programs that could be trimmed or eliminated to reduce the tax burden?If you are looking to reduce your tax bill, I suggest you look to see where most of it goes. Sugar Grove Twp. represents a small 1.18% of my tax bill. The township road district is about 1.93% In total, township accounts for about 3% of my tax bill, while the schools account for over 70%. You want to save money, look where most of the dollars are.What specific background or experience do you bring that makes you the best qualified candidate to serve as an elected official in the township?In addition to my 22 years of nonprofit management experience, I also have 15 years of experience in residential and commercial real estate management.