Judy Martini: 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: Fox LakeWebsite: www.judymartini.comTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Lake County Board District 5 Age: 63Family: My family were some of the first settlers in the Ringwood area in the 1870's as farmers. I was born and raised in Richmond Illinois where my father owned a construction company for 50 years. I later in life married and moved to the Chain O'Lakes area. I am single with one son who is in the film industry and lives in California while working on movies. I have 2 brothers who live in the surrounding area with their families and my sister and her husband have retired and live in Kentucky. Sadly, my parents and one brother have passed.Occupation: Part-time aideEducation: I was a former real estate agent for 18 years and was licensed in both Illinois and Wisconsin until the real-estate bubble burst. I previously attended Lake County College for accounting, real estate and horticulture. I have a passion for natural resources, flowers and plants. I attended McHenry County College for contracts and conveyances and real estate law and the U of W in Racine for my Wisc. real estate license. Being a numbers person, I furthered my real estate back-ground by enrolling at the world-renowned Chicago Appraisal Institute advancing my education on the residential property valuation process.Civic involvement: Present:Lake Co. Housing Authority Commissioner Republican Precinct Committeman #134,Fox Lake Planning Commission MemberFormer:Director YMCA Camp DuncanMember Affordable Housing CommissionMember VA Hospital Stakeholders Com.Member Stormwater Management AgencyAntioch Moose Lodge MemberAntioch Conservation Club MemberFox Waterway Agency Advisory Board Special Area Management Planning Comm.Elected offices held: Former Lake Co. Board Member District 1Former Forest Preserve CommissionerPrevious Fox Waterway Agency DirectorQuestions Answers If you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us of any important initiatives youâ#128;™ve led. If you are a challenger, what would you bring to the board and what would your priority be?My top priority if elected County Board Member is to work full-time for the District, be fiscally conservative with the tax-payers wallet and provide a government that respects their opinions.Having been on the County Board before, but in a different District, I will need no on-the-job training. I have spent decades fostering relationships with Municipal, State and Federal levels of government, working together for the good-will of the people.Some of the initiatives I have lead, and will continue to lead if elected, is providing needed services for seniors, reducing traffic congestion and keeping our waterways clean and safe.The forest districtâ#128;™s money for land acquisition and development is drying up. Is a new tax-rate increase for more bonds needed? If so, when? And why?I believe that a increased tax rate is not needed. People can't afford anymore property taxes and are being taxed to death. The Forest Preserve has over 30,000 acres of open space which provides a balance to our quality of life. The Forest Preserve vision now should be more on linkages not on more acquisitions or referendums. Moving forward, I believe that the land-use focus on large remaining partials of land should be more for commercial use and opportunities, which are the backbone of our local economy. We need to stop the fleeing of the businesses out of Lake County.When the forest district bought the new headquarters building in Libertyville, the intent was it would include the Lake County Discovery Museum, but a big state grant to fund that is on hold and the overall vision is in limbo. The district also wanted to rent a fairly large portion of the building. What scenarios do you envision for the museum, given the turn of events since the headquarters building was originally acquired.The additional space at the new headquarters can be leased out to other agencies who compliment the mission of Lake County Forest Preserve. When the Forest Preserve relocates the Discover Museum, I would encourage the Board to engage the public to part of the discussion on this issue. Once the Forest Preserve Staff completes its inventory of stored articles at the Museum, I would highly recommend the Forest Preserve to partner with local historical societies who may be interested in the locally treasured memorabilia instead if sending it down State.Should the county continue to spend its regional sales tax funds on state road projects or should that money be directed to address other Lake County transportation needs? What is your position on whether Route 53 should be extended through Lake County and why? Has your stance on Route 53 changed, given the recent increase in opposition?Rt 53 is a Tollway project, not a County project. Currently the County spends 60% of its 1/4% sales tax on State roads.The public doesn't care whose road it is. We just want traffic congestion resolved. There are studies that show that even if all roads were improved, there is still a compacity problem for east and west traffic patterns. If Rt 53 is built, it needs to be designed in an enviornmentally sensitive way fostering smart growth for economic development which provides jobs because, people need to work. I do not support a new gas tax for Rt. 53.Please list any elected office you have ever run for and what the result of that election was. Have you ever been appointed to fill an unexpired term?In 1991 I was elected to the Fox Waterway Agency as a waterfront taxpayer concerned about water rights and water quality issues. At that time many channels were silted in and residents could not enjoy their Chain-O-Lakes water rights. In 1992 I ran for County Board Member in District 1 but lost. I successfully ran and was elected to the County Board in 1994 and won re-election in 1998, 2000 and 2004. In 1993 2007 I unsuccessfully ran for Antioch Township Supervisor.In 2008 I sought not to seek re-election to the County Board to help my ailing father.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Taxes. Seven cents out of every tax dollar goes to the County. I will work to reduce taxing districts if it benefits the taxpayer. I will push for more opportunities of shared services between local governments and the County which will reduce costs.Jobs. We need to do more to stop the flow of local businesses leaving Lake County. I will work to get State, County and local resources which can help our local businesses grow. SENIORS..More help is needed for seniors, who did not see an increase in Social Security yet experienced increased health care costs and rising taxes.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.I have greatest respect for a PAST legislative leader, Senator Adeline Geo-Karis, who broke the mold for women in office and was a true role-model.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?If you want to get anyplace in life you have to work hard to get there and if you first don't succeed try, try again.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?There are no "do-overs" in life, just lessons learned. Life is a journey and a learning experience.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?My favorite subject in school was civics perking my interest in the political process, American patriotism and in good government.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Follow your dreams...