Mary McCann: 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: WoodstockWebsite: www.mccann-dist6.comTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: McHenry County Board District 6 Age: 71Family: Husband BobOccupation: retired project manager, chemistry /physics teacherEducation: Barat College, Lake Forest Il BS Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chemistry, MATCivic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: County BoardQuestions Answers There were significant voting problems in the March primary. Are you confident sufficient steps have been taken to avoid a repeat in November? What role, if any, should the county board have in such matters?Yes. Election organization and execution are the purview of the County Clerk and her office. This is not a County Board issue. The County Clerk is elected at large.Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election for the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you? If so, what?I am willing to continue to offer my services, experience and knowledge to improve delivery of county services, while controlling costs. My scientific background, which is valuable for understanding groundwater, stormwater and land use issues, will be unique among new and old board members. My lifetime of experience allows me to see opportunities for improvement in the way things are done, that others may not identify. Most importantly, the I wish to continue to work to build a stronger partnership with the municipalities to insure the long term sustainability of our groundwater supply.Describe your position regarding the balance between county spending and revenues as it exists today, then describe the chief threats you see looming in the future and how the county should deal with them.Property taxes are 70% of County revenues. I have supported not taking a levy for 4 years. (compounded this equals $10 million saving to taxpayers.) Right now there is a good balance between spending and revenues. The chief threat is the Capital Asset Preservation Plan - major repairs to infrastructure that have been neglected -projected to cost $25 million. $10 millons is the need projected for 2017. ( Roughly 12.8% of annual revenues) County should borrow money from the Valley Hi Operating fund, pay interest on the funds. Presumably, this would be cheaper than borrowing on the open market.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.Access to meeting records is excellent and some ordinances - Zoning- Unified Development ordinance, the Stormwater Water Ordinance, Health Department Ordinances. However, the County gets an F for not having codified its ordinance and put these in one searchable document on the web. This would be valuable for everyone, and for Board members to refer to regularly. The records would show that this is first major effort I supported 10 years ago during strategic planning and it has yet to take place. The County must be the only one of its size that has not done this.Please list any elected office you've ever run for and what the result of that election was. Have you ever been appointed to fill an unexpired term?Run for County Board and elected 3 times.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Quality of Life issues: Safety, security, infringement on rural serenity are nuisances that challenged as the rural areas continue to grow. Protection of Farmland and Ag Business: Protection of farmland is important for its food production value, for groundwater recharge, and keeping taxes low. Agricultural land demand few services than residential rooftops. A large network of suppliers provide local jobs.Municipal County Cooperative Planning for a sustainable Water Supply: With the County totally depend on groundwater, I am working with McHenry Council of Governments to re-institute a sustainable Water Supply study group for long term planning.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Pope FrancisWhat is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?if you want to criticize, have an alternate idea.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Travel moreWhat was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?ScienceIf you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Always keep in sight things that bring you the most joy.