Mary Schorr: Candidate Profile

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: Wauconda,Website: http://maryschorr.comOffice sought: Lake County board District 17Age: Candidate did not respond.Family: Married, 2 teenage daughtersOccupation: Controller/Construction Manager (20 years experience, managed budgets over $150 million) Tax Accountant/Preparer, Licensed Real Estate Broker/Own Real Estate Company, Certified by State of Illinois Property Tax Review BoardEducation: Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, Loyola University of Chicago Attended DePaul Graduate School, Chicago, ILCivic involvement: Member of the Wauconda Chamber of Commerce Joeys Angels Chapter Leukemia Research Foundation Prior Co-President,Treasurer PTO WMS Volunteer PADS (homeless shelter)Messiah Lutheran WHS Food Drive Co-organizer Ground Hog Club Member (underground contractors)Elected offices held: Wauconda Township Trustee, 2009 to currentHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: noCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Reduce Property Taxes by critquing the budget line by line. With my extensive financial background I understand the entire budgeting process from payroll to captial improvements and depreciation. I would look at the budget as an operating business not a governement entity.Key Issue 2 Temper over regulation/duplicity of services. We do not need to provide any overlapping services provided at the County level or local governments. Any new regulations/fees should be seriously considered before implementation because taxpayers/businesses can not afford further costs.Key Issue 3 Maintain a healthy environment, roads and transportation. My experience in the construction industry will be an asset in determining project costs and maintenance. I would like to sit on the Finance and Pulic Works and Transportation Committees.Questions Answers The county remains in the black, but property taxes across the region are high. Should programs be cut to save taxpayers money? If so, which ones and why?Taxes are too high. As a member of the Wauconda Township Board I just voted in December, 2011 to reduce our levy by 27%. I believe the government can do more with less. The county should be run like a business. I would critque the budget line by line and see where we can reduce costs to offset a decrease in services.What should be done with the Fort Sheridan golf course? If no building or management proposals come back from vendors, do you propose abandoning golf? If so, are you concerned about a lawsuit? If you propose building a course, how should it be funded?No proposals have come back from over 900 vendors.The deed to the golf course is restricted in that it has to be maintained as a golf course in perpetuity. Unless the grantor of the deed removes the restriction there can be no other use for the property. There is no doubt the recession has affected many existing golf courses and some have been foreclosed upon by their lenders or sold under market value. The RFP itself may be too restrictive and cost prohibitive. I do not support using taxpayer dollars to build a golf course. Yes, I would be concerned about a lawsuit because it would incur costs. I would explore all viable options for the property including revising the RFP and or removing the restriction on the deed.The Winchester House nursing home recently was turned over to a private company for operation. Should other county or forest district departments be privatized to save taxpayers money? Please explain.A cost analylsis of other departments that could be candidates for privatization would have to be complete before any recommendations.Is there a specific type of service or amenity that is lacking in your district? If so, how do you propose to provide and fund that?I do not believe we are lacking in any services that are not provided by local governments.Should the county continue to pursue open space policies' Why or why not?As a home owner and taxpayer of the district for 25 years, yes, I believe the county should continue to pursue open space policies. It is conducive to our environment and helps maintain the characteristics of Lake County,property values and provides recreation.