Elizabeth (Liz) Chaplin: 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: IlWebsite: www.lizchaplin.comTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: DuPage County Board District 2 Age: 51Family: Married 25 years to Brian. Three Children, Ellena 20, Grace 18 and Adam 16. Two Dogs, Orbit and Nova.Occupation: Accounts Payable Windy City WireEducation: Candidate did not respond.Civic involvement: Member DuPage Railroad Safety Council Recipient of the 2014 prestigious "Lauren Elizabeth Wilson Champion Award" for commitment to the issue of railway safety. Appointed to the DuPage Water Commission in 2002, reappointed in 2004, served until 2010, Member of Downers Grove 100 Women Who Care Served as President, Midwest Ballet Theatre Served as Second VP of the Indian Trail PTA Past member of the Downers Grove Junior Women's Club Past Religious Education Teacher, St. Joseph's ChurchElected offices held: DuPage County Board member 2012 - CurrentQuestions Answers What is your stance on county board members' pay? Is it too high, too low, or just right? Would you propose any changes?I believe county board member pay is too high. In May 2016 I voted against the pay increase and going forward I will propose a 25% reduction in the base salary. This position is and should be a part time job of less than 1,000 hours per year and the salary should be set accordingly. In addition, county board members should not receive taxpayer funded health or pension benefits. I do not accept taxpayer paid health or pension benefits. I also believe the salary and benefits paid to the county board chairman are too high.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?County Board members should not receive taxpayer funded pensions or health insurance. I've never accepted a taxpayer funded pension or health insurance and I've returned all amounts paid to me in lieu of taxpayer funded health insurance.I'm pleased that Governor Rauner signed Public Act 099-0900 which provides that newly elected county board members will be ineligible for IMRF pension and requires incumbent county board members to keep time sheets proving they work at least 1,000 hours per year. This offers an ideal opportunity for every member of the DuPage County Board to cease accepting a taxpayer funded pension.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?Reduce salaries for all elected officials in DuPage County, eliminate pension benefits and health insurance for county board members, reduce or eliminate stipends for elected officials. Consolidate the Election Commission. Bring the online checkbook current so everyone can track how our tax dollars are being spent. Be more transparent about matching revenue to expenses. The recent bond downgrade from AAA to AA+ is because the county board is not transparent and candid about the need to match expenses to available revenue.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?The ACT initiative is more about public relations, political marketing and publicity than actually saving tax dollars. The County is two years behind in posting entries to its online checkbook. Employee compensation is reported as lump sums that don't allow for meaningful analysis. While consolidation of paper districts is worthwhile it doesn't actually save ANY money despite the hype and hoopla that surrounds such efforts. In the last several years there have not been any government consolidations that actually saved a meaningful amount of money for the taxpayers.What initiatives, if any, do you have in mind for your specific county board district?Increased efforts for railway safety,pay greater attention to homeowners facing flooding, facilitate the election of local boards such as the Lisle-Woodridge Fire Protection District rather than appointment by the County Chairman, facilitate school district programs to combat heroin abuse and encourage cooperation and collaboration among local governments within District 2What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?End taxpayer funded pensions and health benefits for county board members,require that the county's online checkbook be brought up to date and kept current,adequately provide for our first responders and other front line public employees, adequately provide for our veterans, elderly, disabled and children, develop a governance culture that embraces diversity of opinion and genuine deliberation and which values the "checks balance" critical to our American Republic and discourage the practice of rubberstamping anything and everything associated with the Chairman's personal agenda.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Pope FrancisWhat is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?How to find my own voice in family of eight.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?There are no do-overs, you make a mistake and learn from it.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Music, it taught me the rewards of hard work.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Be true to yourself.