McHenry County board District 6 Aavang: 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: WoodstockWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: McHenry County board District 6 Age: 53Family: Husband (Gary) and son (Grant, age 22).Occupation: FarmerEducation: I have an A.S. degree (high honors) from McHenry County College. Graduate of Barrington High School.Civic involvement: Current President of McHenry County Farm Bureau board of directors, Secretary of Greenwood Cemetery Association, immediate past President of Woodstock Farmers Market, former Trustee for the Village of Greenwood, former 4-H club leader. Member of McHenry County Fair Association, McHenry County Genealogical Society, and Environmental Defenders.Elected offices held: Incumbent since 2012. Serving as Chair of the Natural and Environmental Resources Committee, member of the Law and Justice Committee, and Agricultural Conservation Easement Farmland Protection Commission.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoQuestions Answers Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election for the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you? If so, what?I have a keen interest in the future of the county as a business owner and a member of a family that has roots here dating back to the 1840's. As a farmer, I would like to continue to work to protect our vital agricultural economy and natural resources. I feel that the very diverse and more rural District 6 needs someone with a background such as mine to provide representation. Economic issues, including taxation, are of great importance to me.Describe your position regarding the balance between county spending and revenues as it exists today, then describe the chief threats you see looming in the future and how the county should deal with them.As always, and especially in the present economy, it is important to responsibly control spending. Budgets need to be adhered to, expenditures need to be analyzed and prioritized. Spending should be done thoughtfully and with long-term goals in mind. Investments need to be made that will benefit the economic future of the county, without causing collateral harm. While the county is currently financially healthy, union labor contracts for personnel present a future challenge. Negotiations must be undertaken with care, and consideration of long-term consequences.If you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us of any important initiatives you've led. If you are a challenger, what would you bring to the board and what would your priority be?I have chaired the Natural and Environmental Resources Committee, which among many projects, has amended and worked toward a re-write of the Stormwater Management Ordinance, which was cumbersome and confusing. I have also been active in the process of creating a new Unified Development Ordinance, providing input particularly on agriculture zoning issues, and promoting common-sense regulation. I also helped coordinate a bus tour of agriculture-based businesses in District 6 for the benefit of my colleagues in more urban districts.How do you rate the county government on transparency and the public's access to records? If you consider it adequate, please explain why. If you think improvements are needed, please describe them and why they are important.Transparency in government is critically important. Leaders must constantly strive to maintain a high ethical standard. Public participation in government should be encouraged and input sought. I have seen some advancements take place within the past two years, but improvement is always possible.Name one concrete program youâ#128;™ll create or personnel move youâ#128;™ll make to improve efficiency in the office or make it more successful. Explain how it will be funded and how you will overcome any obstacles to initiating it.As a member of the County Board Reorganization Committee, I'd like to see continued discussion to review the number of board members, and possibly decrease the overall size while maintaining representation of the diverse and geographically large district that I currently represent.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?The protection of our natural resources, especially water, is important to me, as it is vital to our strong agricultural economy, as well as all residents and businesses. Economic growth must be encouraged, yet responsibly controlled. I am in favor of reducing the need for higher taxes and fees by controlling budgets and spending. I am also concerned about the County Jail contract that is set to expire soon. It needs to be determined if it makes fiscal sense for the county to continue this program.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Bob Stallman, President of American Farm Bureau Federation.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?I learned responsibility and personal accountability.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I'd spend more time with my grand-parents, and others who have passed.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Years ago, I took a class at MCC on Critical Thinking. I've applied those principles often in a wide variety of situations.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?The Golden Rule: "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."