Tim Elliott: 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: Glen EllynWebsite: www.timelliottforcountyboard4.comTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: DuPage County Board District 4 Age: 44Family: My wife, Anne, and I have four children: Robert (8), Avery (6), Harrison (4), and Grant (1). We also have Lucy, our adopted Great Dane.Occupation: AttorneyEducation: Miami University, B.A. in history and political science (December 1992) magna cum laudeHarvard Law School, JD (June 1996) cum laudeCivic involvement: DuPage County Historical Museum Foundation President (2010-2014)Metropolitan Family Services of DuPage, Board Member (2011-present)Elected offices held: Glen Ellyn Village Board (2013-present)Glen Ellyn Plan Commission (2012-2013)DuPage Stormwater Commission (2013-present)DuPage Water Commission (2008-2010)Questions Answers With DuPage County's budget being squeezed by state fundung cuts and other factors, what initiatives would you support to increase revenue and/or save money?The issue should not be raising additional revenue and further burdening the taxpayers. Rather, we must increase efficiency and productivity, and make optimal use of our resources. We should investigate better utilization of technology to continue offering high quality services at the lowest possible cost. We should also expand shared purchasing programs and shared services. We have done this in Glen Ellyn where I serve as a Trustee. We've looked at purchasing co-ops for road salt and vehicles, and using alternative sources for commodities like electricity. Public safety, though, is one area on which we cannot compromise.What would you like to see happen to the county fairgrounds in Wheaton? Should the DuPage County Fair be moved? Why or why not?As I've talked to residents in District 4, it has become clear that they want the fair to stay where it is. I agree with them. The fair should remain in our county seat, Wheaton. It is a central and accessible location. The problem is that the fairgrounds have been neglected and are now in disrepair. It is clear that capital investment is needed. However, if we are to incur additional maintenance and capital costs, we must first develop a strategic plan to increase use of the facility and generate revenue for DuPage County to pay for this investment.What should the county do to improve transportation throughout DuPage and specifically in your district?I am very concerned about the availability of public and private mass transit, particularly for our seniors. The County can incentivize transit use by working with PACE and others to create more opportunity and greater convenience. We need to identify key destinations that generate heavy traffic, and develop mass transit routes and methods to convey people to and from those destinations. Right now, our residents are not in the habit of using mass transit. If we make such transit more convenient and accessible, perhaps that will change.How do you rate the county government on transparency and the public's access to records? If you consider it adequate, please explain why. If you think improvements are needed, please describe them and why they are important.This is an important issue for me. I've long been a strong advocate of open government. I've fought for government transparency in our courts, and advocated for it on every board on which I've served. I'm pleased to say that DuPage County is a leader in this area. In fact, DuPage County was a supporter of HB 4687, a piece of legislation that I drafted in 2010, and became law in 2012 with bipartisan support. That bill considerably strengthened the Open Meetings Act and was praised by Chairman Dan Cronin as a meaningful step to restore integrity to government.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?I was elected to the Glen Ellyn Village Board in April 2013, and have served on that board since that time. I have also served Glen Ellyn and DuPage County in numerous appointed positions, including the DuPage Water Commission (2008-2010), DuPage Stormwater Commission (2013-present), the DuPage County Historical Museum Foundation (2010-2014), and the Glen Ellyn Plan Commission (2012-2013).What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I am very concerned about the rising cost of living for seniors in DuPage County. Frequently, their tax bills exceed what their monthly payments were when they were paying a mortgage. Many have have been forced to refinance "paid for" homes simply to pay their taxes. That's not acceptable. Seniors are a vital part of DuPage County. They should not be forced to move away from family, friends, or worship communities because they are literally being taxed out of their own homes. I'm prepared to work hard to find a solution to this problem.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.JR McBride. He was the last elected person to hold this seat. He was a remarkable public servant and a passionate advocate for District 4.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Strong communities and institutions don't simply happen. They come about because people of integrity devote their time and energy to public service.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would have spent more time listening to my parents when I was younger. They were remarkable people and role models in our community.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?History. The past offers us valuable lessons to assist us in confronting even the most "modern" of problems.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?The same advice my father gave me: always treat others with respect, fairness and integrity.