McHenry County board District 3 Gottemoller: 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: Crystal LakeWebsite: GottJoe.comOffice sought: McHenry County board District 3 Age: 56Family: Married 29 years to Christine Gottemoller, Three grown sons all married.Occupation: AttorneyEducation: JD Law American University Graduated 1982 BA University of Illinois 1979Civic involvement: Civic involvement Crystal Lake Jaycees: 1985 to mid-90s Treasurer 1985-1986 Chair/Co-Chair of St Thomas Annual Festival: 1995-2000 Member Home Builders Association of McHenry County: 1990s Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop 127: 1998-2003 St Thomas Retreat Team 1995- 2000 Member, Midwest Bank of McHenry County Board of Directors: 2000-2002 Member, McHenry County Planning and Zoning Ad Hoc Committee Drafted the McHenry County Conservation Design ordinance: 2007-2009 County Board Member Since 2012Elected offices held: Member, McHenry County Gravel Task Force: 1991-1992 Member, McHenry County Zoning ordinance review committee: Mid 1990s Trustee, McHenry County Conservation District: 2002-2007 President: 2006-2007 Member, McHenry County Board: December 2012 to presentChairman, Planning and Development Board Drafting Unified Development Ordinance (Consolidating Zoning, Subdivision, Sign and other Ordinances into One Document) Member, Law and Justice Committee Member, Liquor CommissionHave 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 am running for re-election to the McHenry County Board because I believe our government needs to be reminded that it was created to serve its citizens, not the other way around. Since my election in 2012 I have been working diligently with fifteen other County leaders to revise McHenry Countyâ#128;™s Zoning and development laws. As a local zoning Attorney who regularly appeared in front of the county on zoning matters for the past 27 years, I had come to believe that our zoning laws were too cumbersome and complicated to be applied fairly to all its citizens.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.Since my election and for the upcoming year I have insisted on holding the property tax revenues flat. This is an absolute necessity for a County to avoid taxing people out of their homes. It is not easy but until property values have returned we must continue with this policy.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?Creation of a Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and a statute of limitations for construction that predates 2005. As Chairman of the Planning and Development Committee, my committee is responsible for reviewing the proposed UDO. This ordinance will guide growth and development in the county for the next decade. As part of the UDO we included a provision to allow structures that have been in existence prior to 2005 to undergo a safety inspection and be allowed to remain. Both of these proposals should be completed this fall.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.Recently the county board stumbled over the issue of releasing internal audits. I believe that all audits should be made public. If the audit triggers a further investigation, I would not want the release to interfere with the investigation. However as soon as the investigation is complete the information should be available for inspection.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.I have spent the past year on the Uunified Development Ordinance. When it is completed we need to streamline the building permit process so that those citizens needing building permits can get them in a reasonable time frame. Currently the waiting and review period is too long. It must be shortened and streamlined.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?The current county board has lost much of its direction. I am known as a trustworthy board member who takes a calm and reasoned approach to solving county problems. More important to the average homeowner I was one of the board members who insisted the county would not take the cost of living tax increase. We were successful and this past year we were able to maintain the Countyâ#128;™s Services without a tax increase. This was not accomplished by name calling or drama but by hard work by both staff board members. With your support I hope to continue.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.I believe strongly in coalition building. Washington and Springfield could use help. Locally Pam Althoff and the late Bill Dwyer are good examples for me.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Always be aware of both sides of the issues before making up your own mind.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would not change anything. I have learned from my mistakes and would not be the person I am today without them.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?History It gave me insights into how decisions were made then and how they are still being made today.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Service to your family and your community is the most important work you will ever do.