Joseph Cook: 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: ChicagoWebsite: www.joecook2016.comTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Age: 36Family: Jennifer Callahan - WifeCallie Cook - DaughterCourtney Cook - DaughterQuinn Cook - DaughterOccupation: Senior Attorney at the MWRDEducation: B.A. in History, Columbia University, New York, NYJ.D. from The John Marshall Law SchoolChicago, ILCivic involvement: I serve as a Captain in the United States Air Force, and am currently assigned to the Illinois Air National Guard 183d Fighter Wing in Springfield, IL as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate.Elected offices held: None, this is my first time running for an elected OfficeQuestions Answers The board continues to be dominated by officials from the city as opposed to the suburbs. Do you support reforming the way the board is elected to ensure more balanced representation?More balanced representation is a good thing. If there was a way to effectively accomplish this, I would support it.The role of board members is described as part time, yet the salary associated with it is more than most people make in their full-time job. Should that salary be cut?If a salary cut would help the fiscal health of the MWRD, then I would be in favor of a salary cut.If you are an incumbent, what has your attendance been for board meetings? IF you are a challenger, have you attended any meetings? How many? Do you know the attendance rate of the incumbent candidates?I am not an incumbent, but I have attended several meetings in my role as an Attorney at the MWRD. From my experience the attendance rate of the incumbent candidates is pretty good.How do you rate the MWRD 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 importantThe MWRD has a good process in place regarding the public's access to records and responding to FOIA requests. The MWRD also provides many records through their website and on-line.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 have never ran for elected office before nor have I ever been appointed to fill an unexpired term.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?It is important to me to make sure that the MWRD continues to be a leading governmental entity not only through recent initiatives such as the resource recovery programs but also that the MWRD continues to invest in our local infrastructure. As the father of three young daughters, I believe it is our responsibility to ensure that the health and the safety of our water and our waterways is a top priority.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.My Mom and Dad have always inspired me through their leadership of our family and the sacrifices they have made for the seven of us.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Being the second of seven kids, the biggest lesson I learned at home growing up was probably how to share.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Maybe would have tried to travel more when i was younger or to live in another city for a year or two.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?I am very grateful for the Liberal Arts Education I received and the way it shaped and trained my mind how to think and analyze.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Treat others how you want to be treated.