Khizar Jafri: 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: WheatonWebsite: www.bestdupage.comTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: DuPage County Board District 4 Age: Candidate did not respond.Family: Candidate did not respond.Occupation: Finance and Accounting ConsultantEducation: B.A. International Business and Economics- 2010MBA Finance - 2017Civic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers What is your stance on county board members' pay? Is it too high, too low, or just right? Would you propose any changes?For a part time elected official, the salary of ~$50k a year is high. The honor of serving the community has its own rewards. I would propose a reduction of salary that makes sense to the overall budget. Currently, close to $2 million dollars is budgeted for salaries of local county elected officials.Do you think county board members should receive pensions? Why or why not? If not, would you be willing to pledge not to take one?No, board members should not receive a pension because it's a part time job. Lead from the front, lead by example. The board ought to start by tightening the belt that hits their pocket first. Yes, I'm willing to pledge not to take one.With DuPage County's budget being squeezed by state funding cuts and other factors, what initiatives would you support to increase revenue and/or save money?If elected, simply put, I would fight to make government efficient. Efficiency is my trade that I would bring from corporate America to local government. Simple adjustments in how government operates can save hundreds of thousands if not millions. An example of this would be to work with local municipalities to consolidate vendor relationships in order to get better pricing on work orders.What are your thoughts about the county's Accountability, Consolidation and Transparency Initiative? What role should DuPage play in efforts to streamline and consolidate local government?My thoughts on this initiative is to be cautiously optimistic about it. While on paper it sounds wonderful, what I don't want is the creation of SSA districts after an elimination and/or consolidation of a government entity. Special Service Area (SSA) districts are taxing bodies that have the power to levy taxes but are not considered a unit of government. DuPage should lead the initiative but in a manner that ensures cost savings and alleviating the burden on the tax payersWhat initiatives, if any, do you have in mind for your specific county board district?Specific to the my district, I'd like to reinvest in the county fair ground by bring it up to code. I would leave it up for a public discourse to ultimately decide what the fate of the county fair grounds would be. Ideally, I want the fair grounds to remain an open ground development for the public's pleasure.I, also, would like to initiate public/private partnership to address the heroin epidemic plaguing our communities.The initiative will involve working with local non-profits, religious institutions, and local schools to launch preventative programs and facilitate care for addicts.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?My basic mantra on government is not necessarily bigger or smaller government but rather an efficient government. My agenda will be focused on stretching the tax payers' money to help the communities it is meant to serve. That entails, but not limited to, streamlining government operations. Simple changes in operations can save millions that can, in turn, be redirected to more pressing issues;ie., heroin epidemic, integrated public transportation, or reducing the burden of taxes on citizens owning property.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Pope Francis.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Respecting others- even if they have a starkly different opinion.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Go after my true love earlier.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?History. Helps avoid mistakes of the pasts and applying lessons learned to the current situation.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Listen more. Talk less.