Theresa Barreiro: 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: AuroraWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Kane County Board District 2Age: 49Family: Married, three children.Occupation: Client Services and Marketing AssistantEducation: Aurora Central Catholic High School, 1980 Insurance LicenseCivic involvement: Precinct Committeeman Fox Valley Park District Soccer Coach Annunciation School Volleyball and Basketball Coach Annunciation Home and School Board Marywood Community Center Secretary Annunciation School Market Day Co-chair Annunciation School Fun Fair Chair Annuniation School Room MomElected offices held: Pricinct Committeeman, Aurora 1-5 (2010-2012)Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Low taxes.Find ways to promote business development and job creation.This will help the tax base for the county and lower the tax burden to residents.Key Issue 2 Work to improve quality of life issues in Kane County.As an example, improving pedestrian walk ways and bicycle paths along busy streets would have many benefits. These improvements can decrease traffic congestion and improve air quality.More people would have a choice to not drive. School children would be safer going to school.Key Issue 3 Work to make Kane County more accessible by improving the delivery of service.Meetings are usualy during the day and those that work cannot attend.Also, imnproving the delivery of service would include the quality of customer sevice.Questions Answers Do you support a more stringent ethics ordinance for Kane County governing the conduct of elected officials and county employees? Why or why not? If so, what should the ordinance contain?No. The 12 page ethics ordinance was updated in 2005. It is pretty comprehensive. If people see a problem then they should bring it forward to the proper authorities. If these problems can be addressed through the ethics ordinance then it should be amended.The county's portion of gambling proceeds has been decreasing every year for several years. What is your plan to prioritize use of that money? What might be done to wean the agencies and programs that receive this money off of it?Services that people can't do without should take priority such as food, shelter and health services. Another option, would be to encourage the combining or consolidation of organizations with similar services.These proactive orgaizations would be more appealing to funders.Do you believe the Kane County court system needs a computer system upgrade that might cost as much as $12.6 million? If so, do you support using RTA sales tax money to fund the cost, or do you have a different plan? If not, what is your alternative plan?Yes they need an upgrade to their current computer system.Increase court fees to support the cost of this new court computer system.The use of RTA sales tax should not be a funding source for this.Do you believe county board members and the chairman should receive health insurance and pension benefits' If you are running for one of those positions, do you plan on accepting those benefits' Why or why not?I am not in favor of health insurance benefits for part-time elected positions. As for pension benefits, you have to be vested in IMRF for 8 years before you are eligible to receive a pension. After 8 years one should be entitled to a pension for their service. This is a small pension based on a part-time salary.I already have health insurance. In regards to IMRF, I believe the IMRF deductions will be taken automatically from the start of my term if I were elected.I do not believe that you can opt out.How do you resolve the ongoing debate over the county board setting budgets for departments run by other elected officials whom the county board has no control over? How should the county board enforce the budgets it sets'I feel it is hugely important that the county board sets the budgets for other departments. Without a budget process and structure it is impossible to have a balanced budget.Unfortunately, everyone needs perimeters and if they are not established it becomes chaos.The County needs to approve certain expenditures ahead of time. This would help keep the budget in check.