Candidates for Kane County Board District 7
Democrat Gerald A. Jones from Aurora takes on Independent candidate Monica Silva for a seat on the Kane County Board for District 7.
Q. What is your Number 1 campaign issue?
Jones. I have 18 years of experience and seniority to bring to bear on issues that concern the citizen of District 7 and Kane County. No one serves on more committees (10). I chair the Health Committee and sit on, Finance, Transportation, Administration, CDBG Grant and Riverboat Grant committees. Over the years I have brought many projects and programs to Kane County that have been beneficial to District 7. I know how to achieve goals through bipartisan cooperation for the good of the citizens of Kane County.
Silva. Fiscal responsibility: Keeping taxes as low as possible and spending within our means.
Q. What is your Number 2 campaign issue?
Jones. FLOOD CONTROL: Both the north and the south ends of the district suffer from the ravages of spring and summer flooding. I have worked to bring over $200,000 in CDBG funding to the Ogden Gardens Storm Sewer Project that will start before years end. The county has spent over $175,000 for Elevation Certificates in the northeast neighborhood to release many residents from the obligation of flood insurance.
Silva. Increasing accountability, transparency, and dialogue with the constituency of the district. Simply put, listening to the needs of the residents, answering their questions, and making them aware of what decisions their county government allows elected officials to represent their constituents more responsively and responsibly.
Q. What is your Number 3 campaign issue?
Jones. Quality of life issues: Over the years I have brought to District 7 and Aurora approximately $3.5 million in Grand Victoria River Boat Grants. Some but not all of the beneficiaries of these grants are: The Marie Wilkinson Child Development Center, Sci-Tech, The Quad Counties Urban League, YMCA, YWCA, Hesed House, VNA and the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry.
I was the initial advocate for Kane Kares. This forward-thinking program is designed to assist “high risk mothers” through pregnancy and their babies' critical first years. To date over 1600 mothers and children have been helped across the county.
Silva. Working to bring quality, high paying jobs to Kane County, while maintaining those we already have.
Q. What is your view of the use of red light cameras? Should Kane County continue to issue permits for them? If so, what should be the qualifying criteria?
Jones. Red light cameras are of value when safety is the primary concern. When long term data shows a decline in serious and fatal accidents then they serve a function in an overall traffic safety plan. If the primary purpose for the cameras is revenue enhancement, then I'm opposed to their use.
Silva. A recent survey mentioned in the Daily Herald stated that 70% of Kane County residents are against the use of red light cameras in Kane County. I feel that the Board should be more responsive to the needs of the County's residents in many areas, but especially on a divisive issue such as this one. Recent studies have demonstrated that red-light camera do not increase safety or prevent accidents at intersections which use these cameras. The Kane County Board should listen to the County residents' input and discontinue the use of red-light camera in unincorporated areas.
Q. How should video gambling revenue be utilized in Kane County?
Jones. Economic development is the short answer. In these tough times anything we can do to reduce unemployment and put our residents back to work, I'm in favor of. Loans to small business and start up companies should be considered.
Silva. Considering the financial situation faced by the County, the infusion of video gambling revenue will be a much-needed boost. Following the cuts to the Health Department and the deep cuts faced by many County-run programs, the video gambling revenue could help to alleviate the current fiscal crisis. One major area of need is the County's infrastructure. Many county roads are in need of repair or reconstruction. Areas of the County experiencing growth require new roads or the expansion of existing roads. At a time when the County is considering instituting a toll to offset the costs of constructing a bridge, it is evident that infrastructure is a pressing need. Using the video gambling revenue for infrastructure will bring much-needed jobs to the County, and this is vital to the survival of our families. The state of Illinois has also funded the capital bill with the State's share of the video gambling revenue for improving the State's infrastructure. The dual purpose of building roads to repair a crumbling infrastructure, thereby creating local jobs, makes this a good choice for the County.
Q. What is the appropriate level of service the Kane County Health Department should provide? Was downsizing the department the right move?
Jones. The primary role of the Health Department is to fulfill the mandated requirements of the state of Illinois for accreditation. The case management program and the other programs are not part of these mandates. It was a role KCHD assumed prior to the formation of 3 Federally Qualified Health Clinics (FQHC). Clinics in which the Health Department took a leadership role in bring to Kane County.
It was the most difficult decision I have had to on the board. We need to recognize that no services will be loss and no client will go with out service. The FQHC's are less relent state grants that the county. They have the physical and economic resources to meet the needs and have been serving these same clients for many years. If the KCHD had continued down the same path we would not have had the resource to maintain or core mandated responsibilities.
I deeply regret that jobs will be lost. Many of our finest employees work in these programs. Never-the-less I could not risk the Health Departments future. If in the future stable funding for health and safety programs become available that the KCHD can perform they will be given due consideration.
Silva. As I stated when I spoke on this issue at a recent County Board meeting, I feel that the Board should not have voted to eliminate services for more than 6,000 County residents. These services were provided to some of the most vulnerable residents in the County, young and innocent children. At some point, all of the County's children will be affected if their peers do not receive quality education, health care, and a safe environment in which to live. It appears that we have forgotten to put our children first. The County has disbursed services, which prevents the County from providing a hands-on approach to quality health care. Furthermore, 62 families have lost employment.
Because these programs have already been cut, we must move forward in the direction of providing at least what we are mandated to provide. However, we must also continue to find avenues to rebuild programs with a vision of providing for the evolving health care needs of the community without further burdening the taxpayers. Additionally, putting programs in place that provide adequate health care will save money in the long run by eliminating the use of emergency rooms for routine care, and in the reduction of more serious health issues through the use of preventative care.
Q. The county board sets budgets for departments run by other elected officials whom the board has no control over. How should the county board enforce the budgets it sets for these officials?
Jones. The County departments not controlled by elected officials live within their budgets. Some elected official exceed their budget annually. These officials must be put on notice the unauthorized expense will not be covered.
Silva. Just as the residents of Kane County must budget and function within the constraints of a household budget, the elected officials of Kane County (clerk, treasurer, recorder, etc.) must also live within their respective budgets. It is the responsibility of the County Board to provide some oversight of those budgets. At the same time, these elected officials were elected by the voters of the County, and they deserve the autonomy of running their own departments with limited interference. To reconcile the apparent conflict, especially in light of the County's financial problems, County elected officials should respect the taxpayers by submitting a realistic budget to the Board that spends only what is necessary, and the Board should extend deference to the elected officials by accepting a reasonable budget submitted by the elected officials. Ultimately, the Board should maintain the power to enforce the overall budget it has set because as the only taxing body, Kane County is ultimately responsible for levying and spending the County's tax dollars, not the elected officials who do not levy their own taxes.
In my five years on the Aurora Township board of trustees, we have dealt with a similar situation. Our board is responsible for setting and approving the budgets of not just the Town Fund, but also the budgets of the Township Assessor and Highway Commissioner. The Township Board has final authority over the budgets of these duly elected officials, but we have given deference to their offices to submit a reasonable budget. During my time on the Board, we have not experienced any major conflict between the elected officials because all responsible parties have respected the authority of each other.
Q. Name a specific area of the county budget in which you can support a reduction. Also, what new revenue generator(s) would you support?
Jones. The office of the Circuit Clerk of Kane County.
Silva. One specific area where the County Board can and should cut is the use of paid lobbyists. As elected officials, County Board members should have built relationships with other elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels and can use those relationships to fight for more money for Kane County. The Board can lobby for grants, budget requests, earmarks, and programs at the state and federal level without using contracted lobbyists. Our local legislators have demonstrated a history of bringing home money and projects to their communities, and it is incumbent on the County Board to ask for a share of these funds to return for use in Kane County.
In my time as a Trustee, the Aurora Township board of trustees has not retained the services of a lobbyist, and we have managed to secure grants from the state of Illinois by developing relationships our state officials such as Gov. Quinn, Rep. Chapa LaVia, and Rep. Hatcher, and with department heads at state agencies. Our Youth Department has secured many state grants, not through the services of a paid lobbyist, but through the hard work of Township staff.
In speaking to my constituents in Aurora, I have been told repeatedly that the residents of Kane County feel they already pay a lot of money in taxes. As taxes continue to increase, property values have decreased as have the services offered by the County. As a homeowner and small business owner myself, I am well aware of this situation. The last thing I want to see is to have the County impose any additional tax increases on its residents.
Yet, the financial reality exists, and the County is struggling to balance its budget. As I have stated previously, the County Board must be more fiscally responsible with the tax dollars it collects from residents. The County Board must do a better job of adopting a fiscally sound budget that allows for spending within the constraints of that budget rather than making drastic cuts. Efficient financial stewardship will go a long way to preserving funds, which in essence, is finding new revenue each year. By spending properly and eliminating unnecessary spending, the County Board can generate millions in new revenue annually. Simply stated, being more fiscally responsible eliminates the need to overburden our county's residents.
Name of Candidate: Gerald A. Jones
Running for: Kane County Board-District 7
Party affiliation: Democrat
Hometown: Aurora
Occupation: Retired
Incumbent? No