Ben Peterson: 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: NapervilleWebsite: http://wheatlandgop2013.com/Default.aspxOffice sought: Wheatland Township Collector (4-year Term)Age: 64Family: My wife and I have been married 40 years and have two living children, 1.6 grandchildren and a Chihuahua. Our daughter was deceased in 2002. The Danielle-Joy Peterson Elementary school was named in her honor.Occupation: I am retired from my retail/logistics career. I currently operate District 204's Building Rental program. In 2007 I became a volunteer Trustee and then Clerk on the Township's Cemetery Board.Education: B.S./B.A. University of Central Florida, 1970.Civic involvement: current: Fox Valley Genealogical Society. Trustee and Clerk of Wheatland Township Cemetery Board. Past: Kiwanis president, Winter Park, Fl. (lots of projects). Church programs: environmental/prairie, Special Needs projects. Support for Cystic Fibrosis fund raising/awareness, and A.D.O.P.T.Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: Never.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Tax Collecting is performed by the County governments. The Township Collector's responsibility is managing the Wheatland Township Cemetery. Proper operation of the cemetery requires a knowledgeable and dedicated manager with flexibility to react when the services are requested to purchase graves, measure and mark grave sites for interments, attend and handle funerals, maintain the records and train volunteer Trustees. The position is responsible for insuring that sales and burials are properly reported and recorded as required by 2010 State Legislature Cemetery Act 096-0863.Key Issue 2 The Cemetery needs a long term plan to insure that it will be self-sufficient when site is fully occupied. A financial plan is needed now to insure profitable yearly operations and that Perpetual Care funds are protected and invested for growth.Key Issue 3 Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers Name the three most important goals or objectives this board should tackle in the coming term. Prioritize them, and briefly discuss why you believe each to be critical, and how the board should go about addressing them.Candidate did not respond.In the 21st Century, with municipalities gobbling up vacant land, why are townships needed? Should they be serving a new role? If so, what?Candidate did not respond.What should be the primary responsibility of township government?Attend to the needs of the citizens with open and honest communication concerning present and future activities they may be asked to fund and support.In these hard economic times, can you identify some township expenses/programs that could be trimmed or eliminated to reduce the tax burden?Candidate did not respond.What specific background or experience do you bring that makes you the best qualified candidate to serve as an elected official in the township?Previous occupants of the Collector's position were appointments and had no experience and little interest in managing the Cemetery. In 2007 I joined volunteer Trustee, Rich Grommon. Together we have been managing the grave sales, burial services, inquiries, grounds keeping, history records and other paperwork for the 170 year old 6.2 acre site. In 2010 we petitioned the site for recognition as a Will County Historic Landmark. Upon receiving the recognition, Rich was instrumental in having a monument erected to this honor. Please come by and read it as it lists the key pioneer families who donated the land and for years managed the site as a gift to our Community. My interest in genealogy the history found in cemeteries, my 6 years work as a cemetery Trustee Clerk, and my business background, render me as the best Collector candidate to attend to the details for operating our Township's peaceful Cemetery.