Sarah Richardt: 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: LombardWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Lombard Park Board (6-year Terms)Age: 42Family: Married 19 years, 2 daughters ages 16 and 14Occupation: Senior Program Coordinator for the Lombard Historical Society, Wedding Administrator for St. John's Lutheran ChurchEducation: Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Wildlife Science, Purdue University, 1993Civic involvement: Lombard Town Centre Board member Member of Anan Harmon chapter of the D.A.RElected offices held: n/aHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: noCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 The Park District is the caretaker of one of the most historically significant pieces of property in Lombard, Lilacia Park. I would like to see the Park District highlight its history while continuing to care for the remarkable lilac collection.Key Issue 2 I would like to support the Lombard Park District in the continuing goal of preserving open space.Key Issue 3 The Park District is in a great position as a leading organization in the community to work cooperatively with many groups. I would like to see this expanded to the benefit of all residents of Lombard.Questions Answers What programs aren't paying for themselves? Would you keep, eliminate or change them? How and why?In General, some programs may not "pay for themselves" but may still be important to the taxpayers who support the parks. Other programs may have outlived their usefulness or relevance in the community but still make money. Every program should be reviewed on an annual basis to determine if it should be changed, kept, or eliminated.Is there any additional open space the park district needs to acquire? Please describe.All available open space should be considered for use. There have been many requests for more parks South of Roosevelt Road and adding space has to be an option if it is fiscally responsible.Are there any unmet recreational needs? If yes, what are they and how would you propose paying for them? Or, should they wait until the economy improves?I believe there is a need for more high and low end recreational activities. Many residents have expressed interest in a multi-use sports facility such as the Ackerman facility in Glen Ellyn. The larger goal of an indoor facility should be considered in a long-term plan, but there has to be a way to pay for it without heavily taxing the residents. The availability of grants may be a large determination of when it is done and how it is paid for. But not every form of recreation is related to sports. We must consider the bird watcher, walker, cross trainer, civil war enthusiast, and remote control air plane operators, etc. in our plans.Would you support sharing/pooling resources (i.e. printing, vehicles) with other local governments (school districts, village, etc.)? If so, what areas would you consider combining or merging to save money or improve efficiency?Absolutely. There is already a cooperation with school districts (e.g. the Glenbard East practice field). With a Village the size of Lombard, there is the possibility of cooperative agreements, such as program sharing with the Library, sharing sign shops with the village,as well as using specialized equipment that maybe the park and village needs infrequently.If you are a newcomer, what prompted you to run for the park board? If you're an incumbent, list your accomplishments or key initiatives in which you played a leadership role.I was very interested in running for public office. I feel the park district is a very good fit for me personally. I have worked for both a zoo, and a parks department in the past, as well as focused on outdoor education in college. I have volunteered with the Park District as well as worked with them on events. I feel this is the right time for me to get involved because of the experience that I offer.