Q&A with Fichtner

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?

County finances particularly motivate me. These past four years were spent determining how to limit or cut spending because we were running out of the water commission money that was made available for 5 years only via legislation in Springfield back in 2003, before I was elected. The DuPage County Board does not deficit spend so we had to keep expenses in line. In fact, both expenditures and the line item on your property tax bill going to DuPage County were kept basically flat during these past four years. The next four years will show some financial surplus because Springfield approved a ¼ cent sales tax for the collar counties as part of the RTA sales tax increase. My particular motivation is to make sure we don't find ourselves in another financial problem in the future. We need to examine long-term impacts on the budget of new expenditures being considered, particularly to improvements to public transportation, health and human services, public safety and county personnel issues. My other priority will be to continue to inform residents on what County government does through web-site improvements, presentations and occasional newsletters.

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.

Main contributions include minimizing property taxes. The "DuPage County" line item on your property tax is about 2.5% of your total property tax bill - a smaller percentage of your total property tax bill than 4 years ago. Also, I have worked closely with like-minded county board members to successfully change a few county board rules: - Finance committee now has representation based on geography, not seniority. For a while, Dist. 1 was not even represented on the finance committee because we did not have the "proper" amount of seniority. - Financial impact statements are now required for all new programs or expanded programs over $500,000. This reporting will assess total costs of programs over the years, not just the initial cost, to determine the appropriateness of such programs. - The County budget now requires estimates of revenues and expenditures for 5 years out, instead of just the current year. This brings the county in line with budgeting procedures used by most municipalities and many businesses. Additionally, I voted against pay raises every time it was brought up for a vote. I also personally gave back to the county budget the Chairmanship stipend of $6,000 I was entitled to as Chairman of the Technology Committee. Finally, I have been diligent in responding to resident requests: • The Elmhurst section of prairie path now has R/R warning signs and a better view of oncoming trains. • $10,000 grant initiated and approved for Wood-Dale Storm Water Committee to beautify the Wood-Dale Itasca reservoir. • Illegal business in unincorporated Bloomingdale is now gone after many prior years of inaction • Worked with residents of Medinah and the county to resolve Medinah Rd. widening impacts. • $952,000 community block grant approved for Addison that built a new health care facility for lower income residents in the area.

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?

I would like to look at using part of any potential surplus to create a grant program that matches municipal dollar contributions for transportation or public safety needs. Also, I would continue minimizing resident's county line item of property tax bills after studying how much of a surplus we actually have after long-term projects are taken into account.

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.

I think it would be difficult to come up with legislation that limits or prohibits companies that do business with the county from contributing to campaigns. Prohibit or limit companies from contributing and their spouses will contribute, or a company could pressure their suppliers to contribute, or a company could set up a "dummy" company to contribute. The company wouldn't contribute but owners or silent partners would make personal contributions. It is very difficult to legislate ethics and I am convinced the contribution will eventually reach its intended target, regardless of legislation. However, it is not difficult to require detailed reporting requirements from every elected official that highlights every dollar of contributions and where it comes from. The Illinois State Election Commission has a very easy to use Web site that allows anyone to see how much money a candidate is accepting, or how much a business is contributing. The voters can than decide when how much is too much. I would be in favor of posting a web-link with contribution information to the bio page of each elected official on the county web site. Here's mine: http://www.elections.il.gov/CampaignDisclosure/CandidateDetail.aspx?id=17197 Personally, I voluntarily limit my contributions from companies or individuals that do business with the county to about 15% of the total I have spent on my elections with the rest coming from friends, family or my own savings. I report all of those contributions to the State Election Commission immediately upon receipt.

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?

I am Chairman of the Cook-DuPage Transportation Corridor Committee, made up of suburban Mayors and members of the Cook County Board. We are attempting to address transportation needs of the western suburbs of the Chicago metropolitan region. We are currently evaluating a broad range of alternative ways to improve transportation mobility, and help the region select the most effective and desired projects for investment. Projects in the early stages of discussion include the widening of the Eisenhower Expressway, possibly bringing the CTA Blue Line out to DuPage County, Bus Rapid Transit and High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes. Please see www.cook-dupagecorridor.com for more details. Projects approved by the committee are sent to the RTA for technical evaluation and funding options.

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 think enough questions have been raised about this purchase to encourage a "slowdown" approach to this possible acquisition so the many questions can be answered. At a minimum, I think a partial reimbursement program, paid for by the R/R, should be agreed to that improves those R/R crossings most impacted for safety (need for underpasses, etc.) for the communities affected before the sale is approved.