Travis Zimmermann: 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: NorthbrookWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Oakton Community College School Board Age: 29Family: Hans Zimmermann - FatherBrittany Zimmermann - SisterOtto Zimmermann - BrotherOccupation: Research and DevelopmentEducation: DPS (Doctorate) in Healthcare Policy and Healthcare Ethics - Albany Medical CollegeMA in Bioethics - Trinity International UniversityBA in Philosophy - Elmhurst CollegeCivic involvement: Honorary Guest of the Evanston Hospital Institutional Ethics Committee. I volunteered for this.Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you, and if so, what is it?I want to take Oakton to the next level. I want to make the school better and ensure that funding is spent appropriately and correctly.In tough economic times, many students (and working professionals) turn to a community college for its educational value. How do you ensure that a person's financial sacrifice results in an educational benefit?The Community College has to keep working with local businesses to ensure that the education is in demand. The Community College should make sure that its programs and educational opportunities meet the demands of the business world.From the college's point of view, what budget issues will your district have to confront and what measures do you support to address them? If you believe cuts are necessary, what programs and expenses should be reduced or eliminated? On the income side, do you support any tax or fee increases?I think the college can cut spending on advertising. Most people who live in the district already know about the community college. Also high school advisors can easily inform students of Oakton.The college should be focused on providing the most cost effective adult level education for its students. It should ensure that the money it receives is being put to good use and effectively.Community colleges provide many services to a diverse population. Is there a service your college should be providing that it is not, or reaching a segment of the population that it is not?I think Oakton reaches out to everyone in the district enough. I do not know of a student who was not accepted and/or allowed to take a course or engage into a program at Oakton.If you are a newcomer, what prompted you to run for the community college board? If you're an incumbent, list your accomplishments or key initiatives in which you played a leadership role.I think the board of trustees needs a good decision maker to ensure that the best decisions are made for Oakton. I am trained to help families and individuals make end-of-life decisions. These are some of life's toughest and hardest decisions. Because of this training I can make excellent decisions for Oakton Community College.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I think it is important to make good decisions for the college. It is not about agendas or trying to please a particular group. In the community everyone is equal and has an opinion, and a good decision maker balances those competing opinions and views of the community when making a decision. Many times a little more thought can result in a better decision that results in an increased benefit for all.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Senator Dick DurbinWhat is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Never rush to a decision.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I honestly have no regrets in life. I would not do-over anything even if I could.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Philosophy because it made it me into a better thinker and decision maker.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Life is always changing so you have to keep on learning and being able to figure new things out.