Diane Johnson: 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: Crystal LakeWebsite: www.electdiane.comTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: McHenry County Board District 3 Age: 59Family: During my family's 29 year residency in McHenry County, my late husband and I raised our three children in Crystal Lake. Drew, a graduate of the Illinois Institute of Technology and DePaul University (MBA), is currently a licensed architect in New York City. Adam, a graduate of the University of Chicago and the University of Wisconsin (PhD), is doing post doctorate work on viruses at Harvard University in Boston. And Tessa, a graduate of Wellesley College, is a predictive analyst in Boston.Occupation: Family Mediator, specializing in divorce mediation, with Johnson Mediation Services.Education: I received my Juris Doctorate from the University of Minnesota in 1982. I graduated with my Bachelor of Arts (summa cum laude) from the University of Minnesota, in 1979. I received formal mediation training (general and family mediation) from Northwestern University in 2006.Civic involvement: Court appointed special advocate (CASA) for abused and neglected children; Charter Member of Education to Empowerment, a Friends of MCC Foundation providing scholarships to local women; Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce (Member);Women in Management (Past Vice president and Scholarship Committee Chair);Stephen's Minister with Bethany Lutheran Church in Crystal Lake;Mediation Council of Illinois, Member of Advisory Board (Past President and Board of Director member);Association for Conflict Resolution- National (Member);Association for Conflict Resolution- Chicago Chapter (Member);Minnesota State Bar Association (Member);American Bar Association (Member); andMcHenry County Education to Career Consortium, (Past President and board member).Elected offices held: I served for 20 years, 5 terms, on the Board of Education for CLCC School District #47, 1989-2009. I was President of this Board for 14 years.Questions 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 am not confident in the integrity of the November voting process. In the March primary, failure with electronic poll books caused such voting delays that polling was extended by emergency court order an additional 90 minutes. Additionally, poll workers reported haphazard communication with the Clerk's office. As a result, some precincts closed early. Voters should be confident in the integrity of voting results. The County Clerk, an elected official, is tasked with conducting fair and efficient elections. However, the County Board financially supports the election process and the Clerk must be held fiscally accountable for her election process.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?Local government plays a vital role in making McHenry County a great place to live. Having served 14 years as President of School District 47's board, I understand the impact a hard-working, dedicated leader can make in providing the cost-effective, quality services residents deserve. A critical issue motivating me to run for this office is McHenry County residents' frustration with property tax levies which fall heavily upon home owners. Attracting new business and encouraging growth of current businesses through infrastructure improvements and other initiatives will expand our county's property tax base and lessen the load on McHenry County families.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.In our current economy, the balance between county revenue and spending is precarious. Difficulty in achieving balance arises from challenges such as growth of expenses for county personnel, facility maintenance, capital improvements of infrastructure, and coping with declining federal/state revenues. To meet these challenges the Board must work with administrators/employees to set cost-effective salaries and benefits, control budgets, focus on preventive maintenance, and implement long-term fiscally responsible planning for future capital improvements. Overall, the Board must be aggressive in attracting new business and expanding existing business by improving transportation infrastructure and collaborating with education to build a skilled workforce.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.The County Board struggles with transparency. The Board's violations of the Open Meetings Act have been remarked upon by the press and recently became a litigated issue when the Board's vote on Rauner's "Turn Around Agenda" was legally challenged and then settled for $25,000. This Act is in place to ensure public bodies inform the people about the business they conduct. Transparency would be improved by prompt approval of meeting minutes detailing Board actions as well as providing immediate public access to documents described during meetings as available to the Board and not included in the digital board agenda packets.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?I ran 5 times between 1989 and 2009 for the office of member of the Board of Education for CLCC School District #47. I was elected each time I ran. I have never been appointed to an unexpired term.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Especially in this economic environment county board accountability counts. Cutting the board's bottom line would save taxpayer money. Our part-time County Board members have the option of health care benefits which cost the taxpayers more than $250,000 annually. And with 4 board members in each of the county's 6 districts the county pays Board members about $570,000 annually. Eliminating health benefits and shrinking the Board's size would not only spend fewer tax dollars but allow citizens to hold their elected representatives more directly accountable. Once elected to the Board I will not take advantage of pension or health benefits offered.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Her wise approach to life led her to become the first justice of Hispanic heritage on the Supreme Court.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?You will always know more tomorrow than you do today.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Having lost my husband to cancer, I would go back and laugh more, greater appreciate the day-to-day moments, and not sweat the small stuff.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?English. In English I watched a committed and passionate teacher transform his students. I learned to effect change means acting with commitment and passion.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?One person can make a difference!