Donald Ishmael: Candidate Profile

Back to Kane County board District 3

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: AuroraWebsite: Twitter: Facebook: Office sought: Kane County board District 3 Age: 41Family: Married almost 20 years, 5 children, ages 22,21,18,16,7Occupation: Railroad signalmanEducation: Civic involvement: Elected offices held: Kane County BoardQuestions Answers The county commissioned a study to determine which services are mandated and which are not in preparation for a deeper budget cut. Do you believe the county must continue to reduce costs? If so, which non-mandated services would you cut or reduce? Under what circumstances would you support a tax increase?While I believe that the county can continue to look for ways reduce costs, I do not want to see continued cuts to services. We are about as lean as possible at this point, and any further cuts could create hardships to our citizens, especially in the area of public safety. Currently, there is no need for a tax increase. Over the years, the County has overfunded many line items in the budget, and several reserve funds are also overfunded. I would draw down those reserves (which are tax dollars the county refuses to spend before cutting service) to a safe level before voting for a tax increase.The mandated services study said the law will require a reduction in the number of board seats as the county's population grows. Reducing the number of seats might also save money. What is the right number of board seats? How soon should the reduction occur?I feel that the size of the current board is adequate to handle the needs of the constituents. Currently each member represents approximately 22,000 residents. If there is to be a reduction, it should be in line with what the statute deems necessary.Do you support adding a sunset clause to any toll created to fund the Longmeadow Parkway?YesWas ending the county's GPS and electronic monitoring program the right decision? If not, how would you restore the program?I strongly disagree with the decision to end the county's GPS and electronic monitoring program. I believe that the county board should adjust the budget to fund the program. I would respectfully request that the Chief Judge agree to raise the court fees to help help cover the yearly cost to the program, and the rest of the money needed to fund the program could safely be withdrawn from the county's overfunded reserves.Do you support keeping the Aurora Election Commission?Yes! I believe the AEC serves a very important role in Aurora. The contuined attacks on it are unnecessary. I belive the petition drive to put the question on the ballot was partisan attack to help suppress the vote in a heavy Democratic City.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?An important issue in this race is transparency. I feel that the candidates who are running for office should be transparent to the voters. Candidate should not present themselves as something they are not. When a candidate running for the Democratic Party's nomination for County Board has voted only in Republican Party primaries for the past 20 years and was recruited to run by a countywide elected Republican, the candidate should be transparent and explain these things to the voters.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Tammy DuckworthWhat is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Stand up to bulliesIf life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?To be a better Husband and FatherWhat was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?History learn from the past.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Get involved! Dont just complain!