Doug Sullivan: Candidate Profile

Back to Kane County Board District 10

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: BataviaWebsite: www.DougSullivan.comTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Kane County Board District 10 Age: 39Family: wife Erinmom Lindadad Stephensister Erin StrattonOccupation: Marketing Department Manager, Pace Suburban BusEducation: Masters of Public Administration, University of Illinois at ChicagoBachelors of Public Policy, Vanderbilt UniversityCivic involvement: Board President, Batavia Public Library DistrictCommissioner, City of Batavia Historic Preservation CommissionFormer member, City of Batavia Zoning Board of AppealsElected offices held: Board President, Batavia Public Library District (Trustee since 2005)Questions Answers Do you believe Kane County Board/Forest Preserve District members should have continued access to per diem payments, health insurance and pension benefits?I believe that the relatively small compensation Board members receive is appropriate for the time commitment of the job. For comparison, state legislators (for their part-time work) earn more than twice as much as Kane County Board members. Furthermore, the per diem (for Forest Preserve meeting attendance) incentivizes elected members to fully participate, whereas a straight salary does not. For instance, District 10's current representative attended just over half the County Board meetings in 2013 and 2014, yet was compensated the same as all other members. I would not expect to be paid if i didn't show up to work.For decisions that specifically or mainly impact one county board district, should the rest of the board defer to the wishes of the county board member who represents the impacted district?Every member should have an equal voice on the Board, yet I do seek to foster collegiality within the Board structure. If I have a strong philosophical stance on a localized issue, I will vote my conscience regardless of the position of the member whose district is impacted. If I have no strong philosophical position, I will most likely defer to the wishes of the member whose district is impacted. Common sense tells us that a member whose residents are directly impacted by the issue has a keener understanding of that issue, and that fact warrants deference.Do you support the redevelopment of the former Settler's Hill landfill? What is your vision for the future use of that site?The Board has spent several years studying this issue. The most recent study commissioned by Committee Chairman Kojzarek is supposed to be the final evaluation of whether a volunteer-run cross country course is a fiscally viable option. Given the resources already expended, I am willing to wait for the results of that analysis before determining whether to endorse that project. Personally, I would like to see the site become a revenue-generating enterprise for the enjoyment of residents with no financial risk to the taxpayer, and I hope the cross country facility or another option will eventually meet that goal.Do you support the push to keep the tax levies frozen for both the county board and forest preserve district? How long is it realistic for that freeze to remain in place?When I talk to residents of District 10, the most frequent complaint I hear is about property taxes. The County Board has done an admirable job of keeping its property tax levy frozen. As a fiscal conservative and homeowner, I support that effort. Eventually, to treat fairly both old and newly developed properties, Kane County will need to allow its levy to increase.I have a strong conservative record on taxes. The Batavia Library Board in 2010 returned to taxpayers more than $457,000 during the depths of the Great Recession in recognition that Batavia homeowners deserved relief during the downturn.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?2005 - won election as Batavia Public Library Trustee2008 - lost election as Kane County Board member, District 22009 - won election as Batavia Public Library Trustee2013 - won election as Batavia Public Library TrusteeI have never been appointed to any elected office.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?All County Boards are challenged by the fact that countywide elected officials are independently elected to perform their constitutional duties yet do not have independent control over their budgets. Kane County in particular has endured several conflicts, and even legal battles, over this issue throughout the past decade. I believe the Board needs more voices for collegiality and cooperation with our fellow elected officials to help resolve these issues before they devolve into public spats or, worse yet, taxpayer-funded lawsuits.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Senator John McCain, a true American hero who puts the good of the country over partisanship.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Focus less on making money and more on what makes you happy.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would take the opportunity to study abroad during college.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?While political science was the most interesting to me, I found economics to be the most useful in evaluating politicians' claims with a critical eye.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?You won't get ahead in life doing what other kids think is cool. Be independent and think long-term.