Janet Kraus: 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: HampshireWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Hampshire Village Board Age: Candidate did not respond.Family: I keep my family life private.Occupation: Candidate did not respond.Education: Candidate did not respond.Civic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: Village Trustee since 2007. Currently serve as Chairperson for the Village Services Committee. Also presently serve on Finance Committee and Economic Development. Also served on the Public Safety Committee.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I have the past eight years of experience as a Village Trustee and am still working hard for my community. I implemented a Used Oil Recycling Program and a Used Needle Program. I am presently working on (with my fellow committee members)updating our current Website and trying to get more businesses to locate to Hampshire.What is your opinion of your community's present level of local sales and property taxes? Is the tax just right, too low or too high? Explain.I believe that the sales tax in Hampshire is high. If it were a bit lower we might be able to entice more businesses to locate here. Hampshire is the perfect corridor between O'Hare and Rockford to locate businesses. Property tax here is also high. If we could only get more sales tax revenue then maybe that tax rate can be lowered so that more people can afford to locate here.Rate the efficiency of your town's police and fire coverage. Are the departments well prepared for the next decade? What, if anything, should be changed? Do you have specific public safety concerns?We have a great Police and Fire presence in our town. We can always use more Police Officers but unfortunately the budget can not warrant this. As for Fire coverage, we need another Fire House on the North Side of the railroad tracks because I there were ever a fire and the train is going through they cannot get across those tracks until the train is through. As for public safety concerns I have no issues now that we finally have a stop light at Route 72 and State St. That was a major issue for the kids going to school.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?We have trimmed our budget as best we can without laying off any workers. There are always areas where the budget does not give enough money to but we do the best we can with what we have.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?NoneWhat other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?The only issues that I have is trying to get more revenue to Hampshire without having to raise any property taxes. This is not as easy as people think it is. Everyone that ever runs for office states that they are going to do this and they do not realize how hard it is to get companies here to locate. I being experienced with this know this first hand. I, if re-elected will keep on working hard to get more revenue for our town other than property taxes.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.There are no current leaders that have inspired me.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Respect for myself and others.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I do not need any do-overs because everything I've done I thought out before I did it and have been happy with my results.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?NoneIf you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Never take anything for granted and work hard for everything you want in life. To show respect for others no matter what.