Glenn Swanson: 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: WaucondaWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Wauconda Township Supervisor (4-year Term)Age: 53Family: Two sonsOccupation: Wauconda Township SupervisorEducation: Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Sociology, Carthage College, Kenosha Wisconsin, 1982 State of Illinois Licensed Realtor, 1998Civic involvement: Wauconda Lions Club Wauconda/Island Lake Food Pantry United Partnership for a Better Community Community Development Commission of Lake County Lake County Coordinated Transportation Service Committee Township Officials of Illinois Township Officials of Lake County Salvation Army Director for Wauconda Township Wauconda Chamber of Commerce Wauconda Township Historical SocietyElected offices held: Wauconda Township Supervisor 2005-Current Wauconda Township Road District Treasurer 2005-Current Wauconda Township Trustee 1998-2005Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: Candidate did not respond.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 With the help of the Township Board and dedicated employees we will continue to operate the Township within a balanced budget.Key Issue 2 We have increased services and needed programs to residents while operating with the same number of staff since 2005.Key Issue 3 Be prepared to do more for residnets with less tax monies. The Township reduced the Tax Levy by 27% in 2011-2012 Fiscal year. The Tax Levy for 2012-2013 was set at 0% or no increase for this current Fiscal year. The Township has reserves when needed and is financially sound.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.1. Continue to operate within a balanced budget while maintaining and increasing services. We must be diligent to always search out new ways to carefully and frugally spend taxpayer dollars. 2. The Township has numerous old and new programs and services that the 21,730 residents of the Township are entitled to. We must find more ways to promote these programs to improve their quality of life. 3. Expand on already working realtionships with Villages, Park Districts, School Districts, Libraries, etc. within the Township to share equipment, man-power, and knowledge to further save tax dollars.In the 21st Century, with municipalities gobbling up vacant land, why are townships needed? Should they be serving a new role? If so, what?The gobbling up of land by Villages only affects the Highway Department in decreasing road miles of the Township dedicated roads and highways. As Villages increase in size so does the population of the Township, therefore increasing demands on the Township. All residents within the Villages are Township residnets as well. Local governments will continue to be needed in the 21st century to serve people on a more personal level. Townships such as Wauconda must continue to operate in a conservative responsible manner.What should be the primary responsibility of township government?1. Administration of General Assistance, Senior programs including transportation, township Hall and buildings for use and emergency shelter, food pantry office, cemetary division and all other programs and services offered by the Supervisors Office. 2. Assessment of all properties, approx. 11,300 parcels, located within the Township which includes portions of the Villages of Wauconda, Island Lake, Port Barrington, Lake Barrington, Volo, Lakemoor, and un-incororated Lake County. 3. Highway Department to maintain, repair, replace all Township dedicated roadways, highways and right-of-ways.In these hard economic times, can you identify some township expenses/programs that could be trimmed or eliminated to reduce the tax burden?Every Township expense and program is looked at in an ongoing basis by the Board to make sure of need and being operated in the best possible way financially. In these hard economic times the expenses of the Township increases to help those in need. The Townships only form of revenue is approx. 3%-5% of your total property tax bill.What specific background or experience do you bring that makes you the best qualified candidate to serve as an elected official in the township?As a life-long resident of the Township with dedication and leadership I have enhanced our ongoing programs and added more while operating within a balanced budget. I plan to continue my cost cutting ideas and methods to reduce spending and taxes. I am proud that we have taken an active role in assisting our seniors with a full-time Senior Advocate for the past 6 years. Just recently in 2012 I have joined five other Townships to bring a first of its kind Dial-a-Ride Transportation Service to our area that is operated with Federal Grants through Pace and mathching funds from Lake County only. Also under my direction for the past 8 years, with an excellent qualified Board and team of dedicated hard working employees, we will remain active in helping all our residents and continue to be fiscally responsible and financially sound.