Ersel Schuster: 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: HarvardWebsite: www.electschuster.comTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: McHenry County board District 6 Age: 78Family: Husband, EdwardOccupation: RetiredEducation: Masters DegreeCivic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: McHenry County Board - 3.5 terms Seneca Township Supervisor - 4 termsQuestions Answers The county board chairman often references high property taxes as the greatest issue facing McHenry County. What steps would you take to address this problem?Actions taken by the McHenry County Board, in approving the 2018 budget and levy, were nothing short of calculated smoke-and-mirrors and clearly no example of how to reduce government spending. The 2018 levy was NOT cut. You can hear board members attest to this statement by listening to the 11/9/17 Committee Meeting of the Whole, and the 11/14/17 County Board Meeting audios. The only way to address true reductions in county spending is by taking on, and evaluating, the viability of county programs and services. Until public officials are willing to address what government is doing, there will be no meaningful, or honest, reductions in county board spending, and thus, no reduction in our taxes/levy. A document on my website outlines several suggestions for reducing McHenry County taxes: Please go to: www.electschuster.com and click on: Ãâ#128;™Reducing cnty TAXES 9-15-15.pdfÃâ#128;œ on the left side of the page.How do you think the Valley Hi Nursing Home should be operated, and what should be done about it's multimillion-dollar surplus?McHenry County Taxpayers, via referendum, said yes yes, they want the McHenry County Board to continue operating the county nursing home. Rather than playing political games with the lives of residents' in the facility, this board needs to honor the commitment granted by taxpayers and dispense with the rhetoric that frightens residents. Deducting for facility upkeep, maintenance, equipment replacement etc., I would keep the levy at a very minimum while utilizing excess funds to cover operating expense shortfalls until those surplus funds were down to a reasonable, determined amount that protects those residents.What is your position on government consolidation? Are there areas of government in McHenry County that strike you as prime candidates for such consideration?From all indications, this board has abdicated its responsibilities, deemed its' own board rules useless, and has rendered themselves expendable. The board may be a prime candidate for elimination as it appears they are comfortable with one person running the entire operation.How do you rate the county government on transparency and the public's access to records? Please explain.With just under 30 departments, budgets of over $240,000,000, each county board committee covering several departments, and additional ancillary responsibilities they are now operating under a plan where each committee meets once a month. All too often, that one meeting is cancelled only to have committee issues surface in an ad hoc committee structure. Over the last year, there have been an abundance of Ãâ#128;™ad hocÃâ#128;œ committee meetings called. Under this scenario, one-person appoints those county board members willing to deliver the desired results on issues. Further, and in nearly all cases, meetings are called at the last minute, there is no supporting public information provided prior to these meetings, and documents are laid on members desks at the meeting. Those members who willingly participate in these ad hoc committees, are accomplices in ignoring and circumventing the purpose of the county board members duties and responsibilities. I rate transparency in county government, and availability of county documents, Ãâ#128;™lacking failing.Ãâ#128;œShould small amounts of recreational marijuana be legalized and taxed? Please elaborate on your position.No, and no. It is no secret that for decades, marijuana has been known as a Ãâ#128;™gate-wayÃâ#128;œ drug. This drug has played a part in the current and national problem we have with drug addiction where 100's of thousands are being killed, or lives are destroyed, by this epidemic. Those promoting the legalization of marijuana want everyone to believe this is a Ãâ#128;™safe-innocuous drug.Ãâ#128;œ Yet the poster-child for marijuana, CO, is recognizing a very different outcome from that message. Simply catering to human weakness by giving in to vices, vices proven to be harmful to those who indulge, and the dangers created for others as vehicular accidents and crime doubles is no ethical rationale for generating tax dollars.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Personally, I am a strong advocate for Rules and laws enforcement. I see this board ignoring their own rules and it is troublesome.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.With a great heart, a will to succeed, and against all odds, President Trump. A bit rough around the edges, but what the country needs.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?When confronted with a job/taskÃâ#128;deg; get it done properly and treat it as another of life's valued learning experiences.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?It took a lifetime to believe in myself. Now that I have that confidence, I am Ãâ#128;™spending itÃâ#128;œ at every opportunity.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?It is a toss-up between bookkeeping and civics. Both have been key elements in everything I have done throughout my life.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?No children however, I would advise them: Do not be afraid of failure. Make it a positive learning experience and move on with life.