DuPage County board District 1 Waller: Candidate Profile

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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:BioQA Bio City: BensenvilleWebsite: http://rollywaller.com/Office sought: DuPage County board District 1 Age: Candidate did not respond.Family: I am happily married to my wife, Faye, with whom I have three wonderful children and numerous grandchildren.Occupation: EntrepreneurEducation: Bachelor of Science -- Minnesota State University MoorheadCivic involvement: I have been an active member in the Bensenville community for many years. In particular I have served as: Basketball Coach -- Bensenville Boys Athletic Association President -- Brentwood Terrace Homeowners Association PTA Board Member -- Bensenville Elementary School District 2 And I was a member of the founding families of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Bensenville.Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoQuestions Answers Outline two initiatives you have for the county and/or your specific district.ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT My extensive business experience will help me to encourage new companies to relocate in DuPage. Whether I serve on the Economic Development Committee or not, I will be a strong advocate for the county to the business community. HEROIN EPIDEMIC I believe that drug prevention education is vital. I will evaluate the Board's current program with the Robert Crown Center to determine what impact is has had in educating students and the public. If it has been successful it may be in the interests of the County to increase the budget for similar programs beyond $100,000.Do you think county board members should receive pensions? Why or why not? If elected, will you accept a pension?Like many DuPage residents I feel that the members of the County Board receive overly generous compensation for part-time work. circ;#160;I was shocked when the Board attempted to raise their salaries even more without providing adequate public notice in May. According to a Better Government Association report the County Board pensions cost taxpayers more than $350,000 in 2011. circ;#160;I can think of many more important uses for public money, which is why I oppose providing pensions to the County Board members and will not accept one if I am elected.What specifically should the county do to address flooding issues and how should such improvements be funded?Flooding is a major issue. circ;#160;However, I do not support a "rain tax" utility fee on property owners to pay for it. circ;#160;The Board can use money from alternative revenues, such as the expected 3% growth in county sales taxes and lobbying the State government, to cover this until the bonds are paid off in 2021. County Board members can also do more to work with our engineers to find solutions. circ;#160;Much of our stormwater infrastructure is outdated and struggles to manage strong rain fall. circ;#160;Improvement projects like the Bartlett construction can save the county millions of dollars in damages.What would you like to see happen to the county fairgrounds in Wheaton? Should the DuPage County Fair be moved? Why or why not?I believe that the proposal to move the County fairgrounds has the potential to be a very expensive project. circ;#160;Not only would finding land large enough to hold the fair be difficult and costly, but we would also need to build the infrastructure for the fair. Instead, I support investing in the current fairgrounds to improve the experience and provide alternative uses for the land all year. circ;#160;More recreational facilities would ensure that residents can get more use out of the space, and expanded programming can increase the attendance of the fair to offset the reduced funding from the State.What should the county do to improve transportation throughout DuPage and specifically in your district?I am a strong advocate for public transportation. circ;#160;Owning a car is a luxury that many families and senior citizens living in DuPage County simply can't afford. More affordable public transportation will provide our residents with greater access to county resources and local businesses, helping to spur economic growth. circ;#160;It will also relieve some of the congestion on our busiest roads. Investing in transportation infrastructure, and especially public transportation options, is a wise investment for any county looking to the future. circ;#160;We must protect the funding for these programs and increase it whenever possible.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?As a longtime resident of the Bensenville community I am very concerned about the noise and pollution resulting from O'Hare airport, particularly after the expansion. While O'Hare is an important economic engine for our county, it also has a significant negative impact on the value of nearby homes and the quality of living for the residents. I believe that we need to update our information about what impact the airport has on our communities and invest in programs to address these concerns.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.I am very inspired by Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth for her selfless service in our military and for our community.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?The most important lesson that I learned was the value of hard work, which has helped me become a successful entrepreneur and community advocate.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?The path I took in life led me to a successful career and helped me raise a wonderful family. I wouldn't do anything different.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?I was fascinated by social science as a student in school, which gave me an appreciation for the importance of communication and public policy.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?I raised my children with the same values that I was raised on: to work hard and take care of your neighbors.