Ken Burgess: 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: RomeovilleWebsite: http://www.facebook.com/dupagetownshipawardwinningslateOffice sought: DuPage Township Board (4-year Terms)Age: 46Family: Married, Father of 3, Grandfather to 1,Occupation: TransportationEducation: High School GraduateCivic involvement: Charter Member American Legion, Post 52 Romeoville, Vice President Bolingbrook Trojans Football and Cheer, Chicagoland Pop Warner Football Commissioner, Romeoville Police And Fire Commissioner, former member of the Executive Board of the Hampton Park Social Athletic Club Romeoville, Current MemberElected offices held: noneHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: noCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 It is very important to educate our youth and point them in the right direction and DT continues partnering with various youth organizations in the community to keep the kids off the streets and teach them life skills. Some children come from broken homes, some families do not have the resources to get their children involved, that's where DT comes in?..The cost of BUILDING a youth is a lot cheaper than having to REBUILD an adult as the cost for the incarceration of a juvenile for 1 year is $ 140.000..Key Issue 2 The economic hardship for the DT Residents is still an issue and more and more families take advantage of the DT programs, i.e. food pantry, general/emergency assistance programs. With our programs we have saved over 600 homes from foreclosure. The tax levy has not been raised in the past 4 years, yet the DT continues to provide the so Needed service/assistance to the residents without taking in any more money and will continue to do so in the future. As the economy has not recovered yet we need to make sure that all DT residents have the opportunity to ask and receive help from DT.Key Issue 3 DT serves the communities of Bolingbrook, parts of Romeoville and Naperville. It is very important that all 3 communities are aware of the services DT provides by reaching out to each community and educating the residents of those communities of the type of services DT provides.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.? Youth-families are not able to afford the fees that park districts charge for youth sports and activities. DT is partnering up with local youth programs in physical activity and youth mentoring programs. These programs are critical as it helps to keep the youth out of trouble and jail. Food Pantries-More and more families go hungry and with the help from DT partnering with local businesses to collect food a great amount of Families can be fed. This program is a very important program in DT due to the growing amount of families who cannot afford to feed their family. Seniors-our elders are a huge percentage of our population and we need to ensure that the seniors stay involved in the community with DT various senior programs as well as various other services DT provides for the elderIn the 21st Century, with municipalities gobbling up vacant land, why are townships needed? Should they be serving a new role? If so, what?Du Page Township is proven to be needed as it had over 15.000 visits from Families to the Food Pantries, the township also works with families to avoid foreclosures and as such saved a large amount of homes from foreclosure last year, also an important function of the township is to help residents find employment with job fairs.What should be the primary responsibility of township government?The primary responsibility of township government is to provide a safety net for the people.In these hard economic times, can you identify some township expenses/programs that could be trimmed or eliminated to reduce the tax burden?No..in these hard economic times there is no option of 'trimming? any of the services the Township provides. Families depend on DT services and it would be detrimental to cut any services.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 31 year resident of Dupage Township, minus my time on active duty in the Army, and my 15 year experience in coaching Youth Football I have seen first hand the effects of . Financial hardship for Families. I personally feel my Background in helping children gaining life skills through sports is an asset because I fully understand how the lack of funds Affects families in the Dupage township. This is why for the last 5 years I have fully engulfed myself in volunteering throughout the community such as serving on the Board of the Bolingbrook Trojans, Romeoville Police and Fire Commission, and the Hampton Park Social Athletic Club as well as being a Football Commissioner for Chicagoland Pop Warner Football.