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Laurie Summers: Candidate Profile

Will County Treasurer (Democrat)

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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: CreteWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Will County Treasurer Age: 56Family: Husband Michael Children; Alicia and Son-in-law Jason Jerry and Daughter-in-law Jillian Caitlyn Grandchildren; Paige and TylerOccupation: Registered Nurse DONEducation: Beecher High School Graduate Prairie State College RN ADNCivic involvement: Boys and Girl Scouts of America Initiated first Adopt A Highway program in Will County Initiated the Feed Our Own Meals Program Implemented Flu and Pneumonia Clinics in Will County Southland Friends of Labor Executive Board, Secretary/Treasurer Volunteered as a PACE Trained driver for Washington Township Transportation service ITASCSC (Illinois Township Association Senior Services Committee) Citizens Healthcare Advisory Committee (State Representative Anthony Deluca) Advocate for increasing and improving Senior services in Will CountyElected offices held: Precinct Comittemen Crete 11Questions 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?My motivation for seeking the office of County Treasurer is to continue to serve the people of Will County. I believe in public service not as a prize to be won, but as a calling to fulfill. My issue is accessibility. An elected official should be accessible to the residents of Will County. As the County Treasurer, I plan on attending the board meetings and will be accessible to all local government units.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 want to bring my management experience to the County Treasurer Office. From my professional and civic experience, I have a proven track record of bringing government, business, non-profit and community stakeholders together. I'm not someone who is overly partisan. My priority is accessibility and this includes being available on a full time basis.You would take over a fairly unknown office. Do you see any potential for collaboration with other local governments to get people more in tune with what the treasurer does and resources available?Yes, There's opportunity to collaborate with other local units of government. I believe in the sharing of resources where possible and working with every level of government including municipalities and townships.How do you assess the success of the treasurer's office on what you see as its chief duties? Do you see areas of the operation in need of improvement?The chief duty of the County Treasurer is collect, distribute and invest public tax dollars. With a collaborative effort of the treasurer's office, assessor's office and the Recorder of Deeds information could be streamlined which in turn would make it easier for the tax payers to access the information they seek. I believe success in the County Treasurer's office is getting residents the information they need in a timely and efficient manner. This can be accomplished from a County Treasurer who is there on a full time basis.Describe your position on transparency in the office and the ease of access to records by the public. How effective is the office's website and other outreach efforts in helping the public interact with the office and understand their government? If you believe improvements are needed, what are they and how would you go about achieving them?The Treasurer's Office should be as transparent and accessible. this should be on the top of the priority list. Information from the County Treasurer's office should be readily available for the County Board, County Executive and other local governments. The County Treasurer's website is difficult to navigate through for the average user. I would like to improve the website to be more user friendly. The taxpayer should be able to sit down at the kitchen table and understand from an annual statement where their tax dollars are going.This can be accomplished with a full time commitment from the treasurer.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Candidate did not respond.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Gabby GiffordsWhat's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Work Ethic and Respect. My parents were two of the hardest working people I have ever known.You did your job and showed respect to all.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would call it a "do again",I would spend it talking to my Dad and let him know I was listening.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Math and Science. These two subjects have helped me with my current profession and in my race to become the Will County TreasurerIf you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?All the monetary things in life will not bring you happiness; Respect for yourself and others, is the key to happiness, no matter the differences.