Yagla challenges Davoust on voting record
Two candidates are vying for the Republican nomination for Kane County Board District 14 in the Tuesday primary -- business executive incumbent Mark J. Davoust, 48, of St. Charles, and mechanical engineer Tina B. Yagla, 36, of Geneva.
Candidates were asked to complete a Q&A; some excerpts from their answers are given below. To read each Q&A in full, visit dailyherald.com.
Q. 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? What will be your main priority?
Mark J. Davoust. For the past 30 years, I have lived and worked in Kane County and I have raised my family here. I now have four grandchildren who also live here in Kane County. In order to provide a healthy, safe and nurturing environment for current and future residents of Kane County, it is important to focus on long-range solutions to our common concerns and take positive action in our long-range planning and development. I can best do this by continuing my work in community service and by working with a group of dedicated elected and community officials to meet these common goals. During my tenure on the board, we have made remarkable progress in transportation and public safety. I am proud to be a part of a team that has been able to effectuate positive change in our community. I hope to continue the projects and work that we on the board have undertaken and completed since I joined the board in 2004 and, for these reasons, I am seeking re-election.
Tina B. Yagla. Representation: I feel that the incumbent isn't truly representative to the citizens in the 14th District. In calendar year 2007, he has missed nearly 30 percent of the county board meetings. He failed to show up to vote for the single largest project in Kane County history that was sited in District 14 (the jail vote). He did, however, vote yes to give county board members a pay increase. He also voted yes to increase the gas tax. Higher taxes and greater pay for elected officials are not the issues for which a true representative would be voting "yes."
Q. For incumbents and non-incumbents. If you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us of important initiatives you've led. If you are not an incumbent, tell us what contributions you would make.
Davoust. As an incumbent, I serve as vice chairman of the judicial/public safety committee and also serve on transportation, the enhanced 911 task force, jail steering committee and liquor commission. My duties as a forest preserve commissioner include service on the utilization and enterprise committees. Through my work on the judicial/public safety committee and jail steering committee, we have worked to enhance public safety through the construction of a new county jail. The transportation committee has been a driving force in bringing vast improvements to our county roads, intersections and bridges; most notably the new bridge under construction at Stearns Road. We have made real, concrete progress on the long-term transportation needs of the county. From the time that I joined the board and forest preserve commission in 2004, we have received an overwhelming endorsement by the voters of our open space initiatives and farmland preservation programs. I am proud to be an advocate for these valuable efforts.
Yagla. I would be a true representative for the citizens of the 14th District. I have a proven track record of hard work and dedication to researching the issues that affect the citizens of Kane County. I have spoken at the county board meetings on issues such as the gas tax, jail planning, animal control, etc. I am unafraid of many hours of independent research on major issues. I believe that the county board members should be putting in time to research some of the items that are put forth for vote; to ensure they have all the necessary information to make an informed vote.
Q. Revenues are down and belt-tightening has been ordered for next year's budget. In what ways would you attempt to control expenditures? What services would you reduce first and which would you consider necessities?
Davoust. The 2008 budget will be reduced by approximately 9 percent over past years. In our most recent budgets, we have seen large capital expenditures on projects such as the county jail, animal control facility and transportation projects throughout the county. We should expect to see fewer large capital outlays in 2008 because part of the way in which we can control our budget and live within our means is to postpone initiatives and new projects. With the cooperation of staff and department heads, we will have no reduction in services or personnel in 2008.
Yagla. The dependence of the county on outside consultants in the past several years is alarming. I would advocate the elimination of many of the county's contracts with outside consultants. Expenses are going to increase for the county's judicial and public safety line items. With an increase in population, unfortunately comes an increase in crime. The sheriff's office will need to continue to expand its patrol and corrections staff to accommodate the growing needs of Kane County. Additionally, the state's attorney office will need to expand its staff to accommodate the needs of those requiring legal counsel. Items of public safety should not be taken lightly. It is imperative that the offices charged with keeping the citizens of Kane County safe receive the funding needed to operate effectively and efficiently.
Q. Transportation issues continue to be a major concern to residents. How would you judge the county's response to their demands so far? What would you consider to be of highest county priority in this area and how would you fund its delivery?
Davoust. Transportation will continue to be a major concern within the county and our response will continue to be a balanced mixture of correcting existing problems and encouraging long-range planning to alleviate congestion problems in the future. The county has taken the lead role in the construction of the Stearns Road bridge project which is under way. Major intersection improvements at Randall Road and Route 64, and at Kirk Road and Route 38 are now completed -- on schedule and on budget. Continuing work on the Stearns Road project is certainly a priority. Also important is the effort to partner with communities throughout the county to address future infrastructure needs through long-range planning. Joint efforts, such as the study being undertaken with regard to creating a comprehensive plan for Route 47, is an example of one such effort. Funding of these existing and new transportation programs may be accomplished, at least in part, by the implementation of the Transportation Impact Fee Program on new development.
Yagla. Transportation in Kane County is definitely a growing concern. The county is working with the state to construct more Fox River bridges. It is important that the county stay proactive in this as the county continues to grow. With the looming cutbacks to Pace and Metra, the transportation issue in Kane County will continue to be a major concern. It is crucial that the county work with state legislators to get the necessary funding to ensure that public transportation remains viable and convenient for the citizens of Kane County. The driving public as a whole will be negatively impacted if public transportation resources are cut as it will force more cars on to the overcrowded roadways.
Q. With one long-time issue, the county jail, all but resolved, there remains the enduring issue of county office consolidation. Should it be a priority and how would you accomplish it financially? Explain. If not, what issue do you consider of more immediate concern and why?
Davoust. The new jail on the judicial center campus has been constructed with shell space for its own future expansion as well as the anticipated arrival of the sheriff's office. This will consolidate the county's public safety services which is in the county's best interest. The county also has purchased the former Montgomery Ward property on Randall Road in St. Charles which allows for future consolidation in a more cost-controlled environment.
Yagla. The issue of building a new jail has been resolved. The county is building a $55 million, 640-bed facility. However, the issue of jail overcrowding has not been resolved. The county's inmate population has been in excess of the 640-bed count for months. Recently, the sheriff's office announced that the inmate numbers had reached 769. This is a troubling statistic. Because even with an expensive shell-space build-out to gain another 128 beds, the new multi-million dollar jail will still be overcrowded. The county is planning to consolidate the county offices to the Route 38 campus. Conceptually, that is a great long-term strategic plan as it would improve the efficiency of serving the citizens of Kane County. However, with the recent announcement of the county's need to purchase the Montgomery Ward building, that investment should be carefully considered along with the need to add courtroom space and a new jail wing before the county launches another expensive capital building project to build new office spaces for existing county functions.
Q. The county has taken a leadership role in studying the issue of long-term water supply maintenance and protection. What should the county's emphasis be in this area over the next few years? Explain.
Davoust. The county has reviewed and adopted a water resource planning process. This process consists of 7 steps and we have already completed the first three steps; identifying the projected problems and opportunities in our 2030 Resource Management Plan; creating a team with Illinois State Water Survey and Illinois State Geological Survey to assist with planning and feedback in the process; and working on scientific data and reports. Our emphasis in the following years will be to continue this process to identify alternative plans and implement them.
Yagla. Controlled development. Living in Kane County is a wonderful experience. It is estimated that the county's population could double in the next 20 years. It is imperative that the county work with the municipalities and developers to ensure that the growth is controlled and carefully planned.
Q. Not including those issues already identified above, is there another issue you believe will impact the county or your district over the next four years? If so, define it and explain how you would like to see it addressed.
Davoust. As a member of the E-911 task force, I am working with county and law enforcement officials in an effort to centralize and enhance the county's emergency response system for the public safety and welfare. The enhanced system will help to avoid situations in which there might be an inability to communicate between agencies and all levels of government at a time of crisis.
Yagla. Expanding on question 5 above: A major issue that will be affecting all of Kane County, and in particular District 14, will be the consolidation of the county offices to the Route 38 campus. It will be crucial for the county to ensure that consolidating all of the county functions to that campus does not "landlock" them and eliminate the ability to expand the current functions on that property as required. Traffic studies will be required to determine what impact having all the functions consolidated will have on the current congested roadways surrounding the Route 38 campus. A land-use plan and traffic studies were requested during the jail planning and, to my knowledge, none were completed. I believe that the county needs to put together realistic studies to determine each of the county office's spatial needs not only for today but for future growth. It would be quite damaging if the county moved forward with new construction on the site to later find that there wouldn't be room for further expansion, etc.