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RANDY HOPP: Candidate Profile

Kane County Board District 22 (Democrat)

Back to Kane County Board District 22

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: ELGINWebsite: NONETwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Kane County Board District 22 Age: 65Family: MOTHEROccupation: RETIREDEducation: GRADUATED FROM ELGIN HIGH SCHOOL 1969. GRADUATED FROM UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN B.S. METALLURGICAL ENGINEERING 1972. GRADUATE SCHOOL COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES METALLURGICAL ENGINEERING 1972-1974. GRADUATE SCHOOL MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY METALLURGICAL ENGINEERING 1974-1976.Civic involvement: BIG TIMBER DANCERS 1961-PRESENT.* SONG OF HIAWATHA PAGEANT 1962-1979.GAIL BORDEN PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT* BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETINGS 2004-PRESENT.ELGIN TOWNSHIP* BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETINGS 2009-PRESENT.KANE COUNTY BOARD* COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETINGS 2009-PRESENT.* REDISTRICTING TASK FORCE MEETINGS 2010.* FULL BOARD MEETINGS 2015-PRESENT.* BOARD OF PUBLIC HEALTH MEETINGS 2015-PRESENT.FOX RIVER WATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT* BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETINGS 2012-PRESENT.* BOARD OF LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS MEETINGS 2012-PRESENT.WALK WITH ELGIN MAYOR DAVE KAPTAIN 2014-PRESENT.Elected offices held: ELECTED GAIL BORDEN PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT BOARD TRUSTEE 2009-2013. ILLINOIS OPEN MEETINGS ACT OFFICER 2010-2013.Questions Answers Do you support or oppose construction of the Longmeadow Parkway, including the use of a toll for the crossing over the Fox River?I support the concept of constructing a new bridge over the Fox River and the necessary roadways on either side of the new bridge between Carpentersville and Algonquin. However, I oppose the construction of the Longmeadow Parkway through the Brunner Forest Preserve, and I oppose the use of a toll for the crossing over the Fox River. For my expanded answer to this question, please go to my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RANDYHOPPELGINIL. Thank you!Do you agree with the Kane County State's Attorney, Kane County Public Defender and Kane County Sheriff that they require more staff? If so, where will the money come from to support that additional staff?I do not agree with either the Kane County Sheriff or the Kane County State's Attorney that they require more staff. I do agree with the Kane County Public Defender that she does require more staff. The money to support that additional staff will come from the Kane County General Fund. For my expanded answer to this question, please go to my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RANDYHOPPELGINIL. Thank you!Do you support a completely frozen Kane County property tax levy, or would you support a non-referendum increase of the county's property tax levy to factor in new construction?I would not support a completely frozen Kane County property tax levy which would mean that the Kane County property tax on a property with new construction would not increase at all. However, I most enthusiastically do support the current frozen Kane County property tax levy, which already does factor in new construction. For my expanded answer to this question, please go to my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RANDYHOPPELGINIL. Thank you!What is your philosophy regarding the use of forest preserve district property? Are projects like the proposed cross country course for the former Settler's Hill Landfill appropriate?My philosophy regarding the use of Forest Preserve District property is to preserve and expand the natural native environment and ecosystem as well as provide controlled access for the public to nondestructively enjoy it. A cross country course for the former Settler's Hill Landfill is appropriate but not as proposed at a cost of $4.1 million of the $13.5 million total available for all the many projects proposed for that large property. For my expanded answer to this question, please go to my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RANDYHOPPELGINIL. Thank you!Do you believe Kane County's elected officials, including the board, are fairly compensated? Or is it time to explore raises for all the elected offices?I cannot make a judgment on whether Kane County's elected officials, including the board, are fairly compensated because I cannot determine what their job performance is, each of whom, including the board, has a unique combination of job responsibilities. Now, less than six months before the 2016 General Election on November 8, is not the time to explore raises for all the elected offices because it is past the time deadline set by Illinois law for this election to change their compensation.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Issues of financial responsibility, accountability, and transparency are the most important to me as a candidate for Kane County Board. Currently, the largest single financial issue under consideration by the board is borrowing over $52 million by selling taxable pension obligation bonds of 28 year maturity for an estimated 3.5% to pay off the entire Kane County unfunded Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) pension liability at a savings of the IMRF investment performance which for last year, 2015, was 0.44%. For my expanded answer to this question, please go to my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RANDYHOPPELGINIL. Thank you!Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Candidate did not respond.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Candidate did not respond.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Candidate did not respond.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Candidate did not respond.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Candidate did not respond.