DuPage County board District 6 Wiley: 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: West ChicagoWebsite: www.kevinwiley.orgOffice sought: DuPage County board District 6 Age: 53Family: My wife Laura and I have been married for over 24-years and have three children. Our daughter graduated from Eastern Illinois University last year and our boys will be attending Northern Illinois University and North Central College this year.Occupation: Director, Portfolio Management at Catamaran / Colonel in U.S. Army ReservesEducation: Masters of Business Administration, Keller Graduate School of Management; Masters of Project Management, Keller Graduate School of Management; and Bachelors of Business Administration, Western Michigan UniversityCivic involvement: As a soldier, I have been serving you for over 30-years in the United States Army and the United States Army Reserves and I am the co-founder of Runner3.org aiding Veterans and their families throughout the U.S. I have also supported our local School and Park District sports teams, Boy Scouts, and Corpus Christi Parish Organizations.Elected offices held: Trustee, Bartlett Fire Protection DistrictHave 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.Inefficient public services - There is so much overlap between our village, Township, and County services that consolidation of these services could actually improve services and decrease cost. The key to success is to fully engage all stakeholders to deliver the best results for the community. High Taxes - Our property taxes have increased 34% in 3-years. Yet that has not translated in higher quality services or economic prosperity as I would have hoped. We need to rethink the services rendered and how we render them. Our current practices are unsustainable.Do you think county board members should receive pensions? Why or why not? If elected, will you accept a pension?I am not running for office to secure a pension. I'm running to serve the people of DuPage County and restore our collective prosperity. Though it is important to note that to qualify for the minimal pension, a county board member would have to certify they are working a minimum of 20hrs/week, 52 weeks a year, for eight years. I will not be accepting a pension and I will be a strong advocate to reform the pension system as a whole.What specifically should the county do to address flooding issues and how should such improvements be funded?Flooding is the result of poor engineering and failed zoning practices. Before we indiscriminately throw money at flooded areas we need to address those failures or we'll end up right back where we started. Understanding these failures will help us determine whether we should purchase homes/neighborhoods that flood repeatedly or build to provide for improved water flow. There are a multitude of funding sources to consider but we must remember that changing a tax to a user fee does not make it any less taxing. Any funding source must preserve our property rights and minimize our burden on the community.What would you like to see happen to the county fairgrounds in Wheaton? Should the DuPage County Fair be moved? Why or why not?The county fairgrounds are a part of our history and a cultural icon for the county. The proposed relocation of the fairgrounds to an unspecified location, at an unspecified cost, and without understanding the impact to the affected stakeholders is simply not something we should contemplate. Let's facilitate the public process to help shape the discussion then let the people decide. The county fairgrounds is a matter for a public referendum.What should the county do to improve transportation throughout DuPage and specifically in your district?Reviewing how we maintain village, township, and county roads may reveal some tremendous opportunities for improved infrastructure. Road maintenance is not something that should be pieced together like a quilt.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I am a proven, principled leader with a record of success. As one of 18 board members, my ability to contribute and lead on the issues will determine the influence I will have in advocating for District 6. It's important to know that I was a Private before I was a Colonel, I was a dishwasher and cook before I was a consultant and an executive. In short I have the humility to serve and experience to lead this district and this county to a restored prosperity. This is not about an ideology, its about results for all our residents.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.General Vincent BrooksWhat's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?If it is to be its up to meIf life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Would have become and Army AviatorWhat was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?History. This gives me perspective and understanding.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Do it now. Most people fear the unknown and don't believe in themselves. Taking action in the moment gets things done.