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James Ensign: Candidate Profile

Naperville Park Board

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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: NapervilleWebsite: www.NaperThrill.orgOffice sought: Naperville Park Board Age: 54Family: Wife Hettie, Daughter Kayla, Sons AJ and ChrisOccupation: Technical ConsultantEducation: University of Illinois, BS in Parks and Recreation Program Management. Charles K Brightbill Award WinnerCivic involvement: StPaddysday5k.otg DuPage Pads Sunrise Rotary YMCA member 1 Naperville Chamber Naperville Park District Facility Coordinator 1988-1992 Naperville Central HS Aquatics Advisory Committee Centennial Beach Advisory Committee Huntington Swim and Tennis Club Swim Team Board Huntington Swim and Tennis Club President 2 years Naperville Youth Soccer Volunteer Coach 8 years Subdivision Sports Volunteer Soccer Coach Youth Sports Dad, 20 years, Lacrosse, Diving, Baseball, Football, Track, Swim Team, Cross Country. Naperville North, Galaxy, Challengers, NSA Stingers Soccer St. Raphael Football website volunteer Our Saviors Lutheran Church Tech Arts Team Challengers Soccer Club Volunteer, VP, and game field coordinator Precinct CommitteemanElected offices held: http://naperthrill.org/naperthrill/experience.htmQuestions Answers What programs aren't paying for themselves? Would you keep, eliminate or change them? How and why?Our community generally believes Parks and Recreation opportunities in Naperville have consistently contributed to our enviable quality of life and strong property values. I too have demonstrated my lifelong passion for community service especially in Parks and Recreation. I am very proud of our community and look forward to this opportunity to help you get the most for your Park District dollars. Neighborhood parks and playgrounds do not collect revenue because charging fees is simply impractical.Is there any additional open space the park district needs to acquire? Please describe.Naperville exceeds the National standards for open space per resident. But falls below on indoor recreation space. Due to the resident needs survey that shortage is being addressed with new construction already approved.Are there any unmet recreational needs? If yes, what are they and how would you propose paying for them? Or, should they wait until the economy improves?Yes there is no shortage of interest for parks and recreation in Naperville. Park Districts do a needs survey and address those through a master plan Process, goals and objectives. It is all available at http://www.napervilleparks.org/master-plans Park District revenues come from Taxes and Program fees. Program fees are assessed for classes and facilities where admission is controlled. Un-fenced parks and trails are paid for exclusively by taxes and donations.Would you support sharing/pooling resources (i.e. printing, vehicles) with other local governments (school districts, village, etc.)? If so, what areas would you consider combining or merging to save money or improve efficiency?The idea of efficiency and cooperation is not new in our field our our town. The park district already works closely with the city and the school district. I am not aware of any significant new proposals that are controversial in this area for the Naperville Park DistrictIf you are a newcomer, what prompted you to run for the park board? If you're an incumbent, list your accomplishments or key initiatives in which you played a leadership role.As a park board member I will have the opportunity to insure that we get the best from our park district tax dollars. Those skills were developed and tested through college and 3 decades as a Parks and Recreation professional. I am ready to again join that cause but this time as a volunteer representative of our community.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?The job of the park board is to interpret for the professional staff what the community wants. I have spent circ;frac12; my life as a parks and Recreation professional and circ;frac12; my life as a father and member of our community. Speaking both languages fluently, I can interpret what I hear with deeper insight.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Mayor A. George Pradel. He inspires from the heart.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Treat others as you want to be treated.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would have a couple more great kids.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Aced Parks and Recreation Budgeting. I have always hit my numbers. Other districts even hired me to project operations budgets different facility design options.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Make yourself proud.