Josh Rohde: 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: Island LakeWebsite: http://www.United4Progress.comOffice sought: Island Lake Village Board (4-year Terms)Age: 28Family: I am in a committed relationship to my girlfriend of 5 years.Occupation: Sales/ AdministrativeEducation: I am attending classes at the College of Lake County where I am working towards a Bachelor's in Political Science.Civic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: N/AHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: As a teenager, I pleaded guilty to a charge of theft. I completed the community service hours as instructed, learned an invaluable lesson from it and became a better person for it.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Economic Development. During the past few years, the village has made strides in attracting outside businesses. I believe this must continue to be of utmost importance in order to assist our overall prosperity. I would dedicate myself to making certain that business opportunities were created and cultivated.Key Issue 2 My second campaign issue runs concurrent with my first. While business development will generate tax revenue, increase property values, and assist in providing the necessary services for the community, we must not forget what gives Island Lake it's charm. Parks and recreation, on land and water, were the primary draw to Island Lake originally. I grew up playing baseball on our fields, cycling through the trails, and swimming at our beaches. I aim to keep that tradition alive and help it to thrive.Key Issue 3 Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers The current administration has been investigating building a new village hall in Water Tower Park. A funding mechanism has not been determined, nor has the board decided if the proposal should become a reality. Should that investigation continue?To be accurate, the land that was being considered for the new village hall and police department was not in Water Tower Park. It is a lot adjacent to Water Tower Park. I feel the initial investigation is an excellent course of action by the board. I frequented the village hall as a child and even then it was apparent that improvements were necessary. Methodical investigation to determine and address the issues of the failing building shows prudence on the part of the current administration. However, until I'm fully informed of the details on long term cost to maintain and update the current structure versus construction of a new one, I cannot reach a well-founded conclusion as to which is the better decision.Do you support Police Chief McCorkle and the work he has done or do you believe a new chief is needed?Having only met Police Chief McCorkle once, I cannot make that assessment. I can say, however, that I would be honored to work with him if I am elected.Political bickering, legal battles and other political issues have hurt the morale of village employees and the town's image. What steps would you take to improve Island Lake's image?At the heart of the political bickering seems to be a perceived issue of transparency. Though the current administration has taken steps to increase communication with the residents, I would seek out ways to take it even further by encouraging more frequent communication and, possibly, creating a monthly newsletter as opposed to quarterly while also increasing the documentation on the village website.Talking with your friends and neighbors, what seems to be their biggest public safety concern? Explain the concern as you see it, and discuss how you think it should be addressed?I believe our police force does an excellent job promoting safety within our village. When speaking with friends and neighbors, I surmise they generally feel the same. If elected, my main goal would be to assist in any future concerns that may surface.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?We should take advantage of the natural landscape of the village to attract unique businesses, such as constructing a lakeside restaurant, and provide an increase in entertainment for all ages. In doing so, we may keep Island Lake residents from leaving town and, at the same time, generate revenue by bringing nonresidents to local businesses.