James Kearns: 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: HuntleyWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: McHenry County Board District 6 Age: 54Family: Spouse -DaciaChildren- Erika,Jennifer and RyanOccupation: Grafton Township Supervisor/Business owner-Nutri Life Pet ProductsEducation: Agri-Business B.S. Illinois State University-1984Civic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: Grafton Township SupervisorQuestions 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?I would hope so. We'll find out the night of the election.I think the Clerk has taken steps to fix the problems. The board should push the Clerk to provide proper training to the employeeslllWhy 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 running for the McHenry County Board District 6 because I hope to decrease the bureaucracy in all county departments; making it easier to serve the public in a more efficient way with lower cost. I would help to lower the tax burden on the property owners in McHenry County by pushing for fiscally conservative spending by the county board.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.Ever increasing property taxes is a big problem facing residents. McHenry County board has held a flat levy for 5 years. To maintain a flat or lower levy; McHenry County needs to encourage economic business development within the county to create jobs while cutting expenditures if it ever hopes to achieve a lower tax levy. During the March Primary I proposed the County Board should require an overall 10% cut in spending of the budget in order to lower the tax levy.Taxes in McHenry County are unsustainable because of tax levy increases by many taxing bodies such as school districts.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.Transparency in all Government is important. I have found the county website to be pretty transparent and helpful when researching issues relating to McHenry County. The site also provides recordings of meetings for those who wish to Listen to what the board members have discussed.There is always room for improvement and I support total transparency.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?In 2013 I was elected to the office of Grafton Township Supervisor.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I believe the answer to lower property taxes is the controlled economic business growth within the boundaries of land use as described in the McHenry County Unified Development Ordinance, as amended in January 2016 I would also hope to promote sensible economic development along the McHenry County Arterial highways.This would help lower the tax burden the homeowner while providing better paying jobs.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.President George W BushWhat is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?If you play hard, be prepared to work hard.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Feb 22,2012 Life is PreciousWhat was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Agri business economics .I use this class every day in business.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Christ is your Savior.