Q&A with Enger
1. 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 that? What will be your main priority in office?
I am running to insure that sound judgment and fiscal responsibility returns to County government. I would like to make sure that the concerns and needs of the residents of DuPage County do not continue to fall upon deaf ears. I would like to make this board held accountable for its lack of action in the best interest of the public that it is supposed to serve. The board is supposed to be the eyes ears and voice of this county. I would like to hold town hall meetings at least twice a month and inform the public by newspaper of upcoming votes to get public input. I would like to change the meetings to evenings so that more residents can attend. I would like to downsize the board and have them all take a pay cut and give back perks
2. If you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us what important initiatives you've led. If you are not an incumbent, tell us what contributions you would make.
I will address the homeless and affordable housing problems in Dupage. I held board accountable not to privatize Convalesent Center, but instead had them appoint a blue ribbon committee to study and help the nursing home. My campaign along with the Knights of Columbus donated 35 new wheel chairs to the home because the County said that they could not afford them.
3. What are your thoughts on how to best make use of revenue from the county sales tax increase approved by the state legislature? What should be done with any surplus from the sales tax increase?
Make sure that all services are well funded, especially the human services department. This is the department that has been cut by 20% in the past 6 years. We need to insure that the residents of DuPage County that are in need, since we have over 56,000 people living at or below the poverty level, are taken care of with proper funding and strong programs.
4. Should candidates for county board and other elected offices accept campaign contributions from companies that do business with the county? If so, why? If not, why not and how should this be addressed? If you have accepted campaign contributions from county vendors, please list them by name and amount.
NO! The Board should sign an ethics reform amendment to the by- laws stating that no one should accept contributions from any business that works for or with the County or from any business that is applying for contracts with the County.
5. With the high price of gasoline, what should the county board be doing to improve energy efficiency in government operations? What, if anything, should the county board be doing to encourage mass transit options in the county?
The county should be purchasing more vehicles that are fuel efficient and hybrid rather than their SUV and less fuel efficient vehicles that they now have. County should aggressively contract for bulk fuel purchase for all county departments. We should switch to solar and wind power of all county buildings. Our intersections and street lights should all be switched over to solar. All emergency generators at government buildings should be solar or wind operated. Board members should be attending public forums on transportation and we should work with our state and public officials to obtain funding and grants to expand this program.
6. What are your thoughts on the Canadian National Railway's proposal to purchase the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway Co. in order to reroute some freight train traffic from lines in Chicago and inner suburbs?
I am against this. This would put the public safety at risk. This would cause more congestion on our roads, therefore causing more pollution in our County. We currently are one of the highest polluted counties in the state (EPA report) Economically this will put a strain on many of the communities due to the 20% increase in use of these railways that run through the communities. Many of these communities are barely getting by now because traffic is rerouting to get around the congestion and stopped traffic because of the number of trains we currently have using these tracks. The Union Pacific has done nothing to reach out to these communities to solve this problem for the betterment of both sides.