Rebecca Gillam: 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 DundeeWebsite: beckygillam.orgOffice sought: Kane County board District 21 Age: 53Family: Craig - husband Haley and Gus - adult childrenOccupation: landscpe designerEducation: BA from Drake University Continuing Ed in Architecture at local community collegesCivic involvement: "Earth Day, Every Day in West Dundee" Community Gardening Project - organizer; West Dundee Appearance Review Commissioner; District 300 schools: Buildings and Facilities Oversight Committee, Dundee-Crown POMP (Parents of Music Performers) President; Dundee-Crown Booster Club, Dundee Middle School Plan Team, Dundee Highlands Elementary PTC -- President; New Friends Neighbors -- President; Dundee Township Backyard Garden Club -- President; Heritage Fest volunteer/organizer; Dickens in Dundee volunteer/organizer; Irish Fest volunteer; MDA "Lock-Up" fundraiser; Shop with a Cop volunteer; JDRF Family Walk Team Chair; Palatine Plan Commissioner; Jaycees: Palatine Jaycee of the Year winner; IL State Individual Development Vice-President of the YearElected offices held: Village Trustee - West Dundee Appearance Review Committee - West Dundee Planning Zoning Commission- PalatineQuestions 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?The Board unanimously approved engineering for the Longmeadow Parkway Bridge Corridor in July 2013, a project that will improve commuter travel and alleviate the strain on the existing Fox River crossings. $45M has been located through other sources to offset the planned tolls. I will continue to work to find alternative funding and to be supportive of this project. Improvements to Brunner Family Forest Preserve have begun with the help of a $400,000k matching grant. I will push for further improvements and to work with local/township officials to see trail construction linking Brunner to Raceway Woods, to the Schweitzer FP.Regarding the budget, how long can/should the county board and forest district maintain overall flat property tax levies? Will the budget outlook permit the county to continue to hire the best possible staff members and offer the services taxpayers want and need?I support a frozen levy for as long as possible. It's an annual balancing act between providing the mandated/desired services and revenue. A long-term budget has been developed to prioritize capital needs. A fee study to verify that the County is appropriately charging to cover costs was undertaken. Qualified, talented staff is, and will continue to be provided for the residents of Kane. It is imperative that the Board continues to look for efficiencies at every turn: removing redundancy, improving technology, consolidating services, simplifying processes, identifying and improving upon weaknesses, and clearly communicating the Board's priorities.Both the Kane County Coroner and Kane County Diagnostics agency have indicated they need new or improved spaces. What would be your approach to determine if and when those agencies need a different space? How would you pay for the construction or renovations?I would like to see the Diagnostic Center moved to the Judicial Center where they could be most effective. Ongoing upgrades to the Coroner's office will bring office operations back to the existing facility at the Kane County Governmental Center and will allow time to find a better solution to their future facility needs. Both projects should be included in the long-term capital projects plan where their needs can be prioritized by the entire Board, and will be paid for through capital projects revenue sources and savings from the General Fund.Which, if any, of the proposed redevelopment plans for the Settler's Hill campus do you support? Why or why not?The improvements to the golf course and the cross-country course currently being engineered are both a great start to the improvements planned for the property. I especially like that the cross-country course planning will allow for many regional and community events. Regarding the commercial uses (hotel and events stage) I favor selling off of these parcels to private businesses. Many of the currently leased properties were parcels purchased with the facilities and/or leases in place (Cougar's stadium). I would not want to build a new venue for the sole purpose of leasing it out.What will be your criteria for rating the success of the county's animal control agency and its new leader?Success would be the ability of the Animal Control department to meet its financial obligations and to run smoothly without the day-to-day involvement of the Public Health Executive Director, Ms. Jeffers. The new director of Animal Control, Brett Youngsteadt, has some great ideas that he would like implement, such as increasing visibility and volunteerism at the facility, and I look forward to those improvements.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?The County has undertaken the purchase of new Judicial and Public Safety computer system. Originally estimated at over $12M, the price has been more realistically set at $6M. I was able to attend one of the technology demonstrations run by Tyler Technologies. I learned two things from the presentation: the system under which our court system works was more outdated than I thought and I am comfortable with the purchase of a new system. This change will lead to efficiency in time and facility needs that will pay off, and could lead to the retention of valuable, trained staff.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Elgin Fire Chief John Fahy because he has always encouraged me beyond what I thought I was capable of accomplishing.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?To be grateful for the generosity of others, to work hard, and to be honest....because they are all connected.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Spend more time with family before it's impossible to do so.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Art/design. It taught me to see the beauty in everything.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Work at what you love to do.