John Basco: 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: Downers GroveWebsite: johnbasco.comTwitter: @JohnBascoILFacebook: http://facebook.com/JohnBascoILOffice sought: DuPage County board District 3 Age: 42Family: I have 2 boys Julian, who attends College of DuPage, and Miles, who goes to O'Neill Middle School. Attending parent teacher conferences at schools where you were a student at is an interesting experience!Occupation: Manager/TeacherEducation: I have a Bachelor Degree in Liberal Arts, a Master in Computer Science, and a Doctorate in Business Administration.Civic involvement: Both my kids attended District 58 and I love volunteering at the schools. At work I'm on the community service committee, which organizes regular activities like cleaning up the local parks and making blankets for the homeless.Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers 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?The essential services we all depend on need a champion. Health, education, safety, roads, and conservation are under attack from the highest levels of government down to our own county board. Our tax dollars should improve our community and quality of life. Illinois will receive less funding from the state, so to protect the services that make DuPage great, we need to work smarter.What is your stance on county board members' pay? Too high, too low, just right? Would you propose any changes?The DuPage County Board members earn $50, 079 a year, which is absolutely too high. That's over twice the salary of Will County Board members. This is a part time job with a full time salary. That's not ok, especially when the average income in DuPage as of the last census was $38,458.With DuPage County's budget being squeezed by the state funding reductions, what initiatives would you support to increase revenue and/or save money?Consolidation: smart consolidation ensures everyone access to essentials like healthcare, education, and transportation. These essential services keep the community healthy, happy, and economically strong. Conservation: protecting our natural resources is a small investment with huge returns. Projects like the Route 83 asphalt plant threaten our health and our home values. Let's stop them now so we're not paying for them later. Opioid crisis: prevention and rehabilitation services are proven more effective and less expensive than prison. We cannot afford to lose them. Let's start with diversion and harm reduction programs.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?I appreciate the board recognizing the importance of consolidation. However, people are leaving DuPage. Without retaining our key public services, we will continue to lose people (and their tax dollars). The 2018 budget cuts funding for education by $14,000, public works by $898,800, parks and conservation by $826,000, public safety by $1,393,800, and highways, streets, and bridges by $4,094,500. The budget also INCREASES spending on government by $12,109,400! We need people on the board that put the well-being of the community ahead of their own.What initiatives, if any, do you have in mind for your specific county board district?I think that the issues we face in district 3 are shared by all of DuPage. And the best way to address them is by working together. Take storm water for example. It's a major issue that affects everyone in the county. And the water doesn't care if a home is in district 3 or district 6. Let's combine our resources and expertise to combat issues like this together. We'll eliminate redundancy and be more effective.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?My platform leads with my commitment to saving and supporting critical social services that address prevention of and recovery from opioid abuse. This is an issue close to my family as we support loved ones affected by opioid use. While this is an extremely challenging issue, my family has grown closer in recovery and we continue to learn from one another as we push onward. I know we can recover and strengthen ourselves as a community. My personal experiences give my efforts to address this issue as a county board member strength and determination.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Pope Francis. He's exactly what we need in a world leader empathetic, progressive, bold, and wise. And I'm not even Catholic!What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Don't talk during Star Trek.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I don't have many regrets, but I wish I'd enlisted in the military. That's one of the reasons I chose public service.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Speech, or rather, speech team. It taught me communication, the value of working as part of a team, and how to tie a necktie.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Always do the kind thing. Always. It's never the wrong choice.