Q&A with McTague

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? What will be your main priority?

I am running for office to provide balanced discussion and responsible government that reflects our current and future needs as a county while preserving our natural resources and diversity of views. To correct the failures of one-party rule that has led to wasteful mismanagement of the county's taxes and natural resources. This county board has consistently demonstrated failure to effective plan and manage the stewardship of the county's revenues and resources by continually squandering the county residents' tax contributions and trust. This neglect of governmental responsibilities to the citizens of McHenry is due to the lack of need to be accountable to the voters. The lack of accountability and narrow view of issues and solutions that monopolization our county government results from one-party rule of the county board since its inception in 1837 and the sense of entitlement that comes with it. We see the effects this is having on a national level. Well, that is has been happening on a local level for many years, which has led to poor planning; wasteful spending and misplaced priorities. As a Democrat whose progressive perspective focuses more on our social contract with the citizens of McHenry rather than with developers and corporations, a balanced stewardship can create a balanced planning, decisions and priorities on how to spend our tax dollars.

2. 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.

The contributions my election to the county board would be to inject change into the approach to planning for the present and future needs of McHenry County. Voter accountability and transparency in decision making in the execution of those plans and allocation of the resources and environmental protections in accomplishing those plans. An essential part of a responsible and responsive government, which is accountable to the voters, needs to effectively prioritize and execute well thought out and debated plans. Otherwise we would end up with the same wasteful and mismanaged form of county governmental planning we already have. I would certainly seek to represent the views and need of the people in my district. However, I would obviously participate in a balance discussion of how best to represent the counties social and environmental contract with the present and future population of the county. A contract that embodies our mandate as elected officials. To provide the best quality of life for present and future generations of the county residents through conservation of our natural resources and planned growth for economic as well as residential opportunities.

3. 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.

Here is a particular area where failure to plan wastes both our natural resources and sets us up unnecessary future costs to fix problems generated from poor planning and lack of responsive decision making. Delaying to make important leadership decisions now that may offend special interests will cost us more in the future. We need to take a serious look at the issues and provide responsive balanced and responsible leadership on the water supply issues for the county, especially in District 1. The Baxter/Woodman study indicates that the county's ability to recharge its water table, our only access to consumable water, is currently challenged in my district at almost capacity and will exceed capacity in the near future. This is expected to spread throughout the county in coming years. We need to address this now a little more thoughtfully and vigorously by taking a leadership role. We need to build consensus and collaboration between county and municipal government. This needs to be an active part of 2030 plan. We need to enact and enforce planning and development and the conservation design ordinance. Encourage innovation in water reclamation projects, conservation, etc. And, we need to do a better job of protecting our water supply and citizens from industrial toxic waste. The recent McCollum Lake/Health Department debacle should never be repeated.

4. 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?

The state officials are busy bickering in Springfield and tying up road construction dollars. However, we do have federal dollars available as in the project for the Route 62/31 bypass. We can explore public transportation options and we could use an interstate highway to link our county with the rest of the nation. Our county government has confounded our options by poor priority management and infrastructure development. Road expansion and development now require more money in a shrinking economy with the real probability of displacing residents as in Lake in the Hills project. It cost more to retrofit roadways than to properly project growth and expansion and build suitable transportation. The

board has studied the transportation issues almost every year since the 1940s without any substantial progress to speak of with the exception of spending taxpayers' dollars on the studies. While the county board vacillated on what to do, the population grows toward an expected 600,000. District 1 has and will absorb up to three-fourths of that growth with 66 percent of District 1 residents continuing to commute outside the county for their livelihood at a wasted fuel cost of 500 million. We cannot afford the present make up of the county board. With their poor planning and management of county revenues, resources and transportation needs.

5. Not including those issues already identified above, is there another issue you believe will affect the county or your district over the next four years? If so, define it and explain how you would like to see it addressed.

The issues of water conservation, transportation and the use of taxpayer dollars to effectively manage those issues are of utmost priority for District 1. The remaining issue the voters of McHenry County and District 1 particularly need to consider is what type of leadership they want to provide effective stewardship of those concerns. The county board of McHenry has historically been composed of individuals who would rather keep the status quo. A status that has created difficult and costly difficulties for the present and future residents of District 1 residents. A district that has moved away from the 19th-century view of the world and need answers and leadership that is responsive, responsible and accountable to their 21st century concern. We need to pay attention as much to the social and environmental contracts with our area citizens as we do our economic growth. We cannot do this effectively with same old ineffectual and unresponsive view of county government.

6. Please list the names of all relatives employed by or involved in contracts with McHenry County, their relationship to you and their position or area of business.

None.