Lisa DeLaMar: 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: GrayslakeWebsite: http://avonaction.comOffice sought: Avon Township Board (4-year Terms)Age: 45Family: Married, 4 childrenOccupation: Laboratorian, CytotechnologistEducation: Graduate degree, Michael Reese School of CytotechnologyCivic involvement: AYSO Soccer Board, Library Board, St. Gilbert School BoardElected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Extension of services to Avon Township residents.Key Issue 2 Tax reductionKey Issue 3 Greater tax assistance to seniors and veteransQuestions 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.The township board will need to tackle and weigh the demands of greater needs of the residents against keeping the reduced tax status currently enjoyed by the Avon Township residents. Lake County taxes are a huge burden to all the residents, and as public servants this should be constantly in the decision making formula. That said, with more and more residents struggling to meet daily needs such as health care access and nutritional needs for their families, this board will need more creativity and ingenuity to give our residents the best possible living environment. To summarize, our agenda is to keep taxation low, provide optimal service, and continue to maximize benefits to seniors and veterans who have already paid it forward.In the 21st Century, with municipalities gobbling up vacant land, why are townships needed? Should they be serving a new role? If so, what?Townships are vital in keeping government at the most basic, grassroots level. Government best serves its residents at the most microscopic and local levels. It is in the smaller branches of the political tree that individual voices are heard the loudest. It's easy to feel as though one vote or one voice couldn't possibly matter in today's model of large scale government. The township level is the place where anyone can come to a local meeting and feel informed and contributory.What should be the primary responsibility of township government?The primary responsibility of local township government is listening and then mirroring the sentiments of its constituents in the policies and changes implemented by the board. The government should be a mechanism for individuals to impact change in their day to day living environment.In these hard economic times, can you identify some township expenses/programs that could be trimmed or eliminated to reduce the tax burden?The Avon Action Board is inheriting a tradition of trimmed waste including that of their own salaries. They have lowered the cost of service delivery and have sought every opportunity to look for enhancement of service at the best possible cost. As the incoming board hopefuls, we plan to use that model and continue to look for creative ways to extend each dollar. We plan to extend, not trim service while always searching for cost conscious ways to provide a high value to our residents. The Avon residents deserve more, not less 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?I have served on the school board for St. Gilbert School and have been president and treasurer for our Woman's Club. I have served on the AYSO board and coached AYSO for over 10 years. These experiences have taught me the importance of working to give the people that give us their trust more than what they expected. We want to exceed the expectations of those who live in the Avon Township.