Larry Smith: Candidate Profile

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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:BioQA Bio City: HarvardWebsite: Vote-Smith.comOffice sought: McHenry County board District 6 Age: 59Family: Wife - Karen Adult Daughter - SarahOccupation: Real Estate Broker, Director of Insurance Company, Farm OwnerEducation: University of Wisconsin Northern Illinois University McHenry County CollegeCivic involvement: Harvard Moose LodgeElected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election for the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you? If so, what?My interest in running for office stems from my lifelong interest in politics and the hope I can better represent the voters of District 6. I am confident my experiences as a real estate broker, appraiser, director of an insurance company and farm owner can bring a fresh perspective to the County Board. As a self-employed businessman in McHenry County for over 30 years, my positive approach on the County Board will represent my constituents free of the bipartisan politics that has so often hindered good government in the past.Describe your position regarding the balance between county spending and revenues as it exists today, then describe the chief threats you see looming in the future and how the county should deal with them.McHenry County has done a good job regarding the balance between spending and the revenue as it exists today. McHenry County has adequate reserves and a very good credit rating. With the tax levy frozen, the County Board has more incentive to find creative ways to resolve financial issues. McHenry County needs to continue with fiscally sound policies that keep spending in check, our reserves adequate, and our credit rating high to deal with any problems looming in the future.If you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us of any important initiatives you've led. If you are a challenger, what would you bring to the board and what would your priority be?One of my top priorities is a working understanding of the County's budget. This is crucial to making good decisions and my business background will be an asset. I will work with other Board members to develop a system that brings all boards and departments before the County Board on a routine basis to justify their budgets. This would be very helpful in eliminating waste and/or duplication of services, and help make our County government operate as efficiently as possible.How do you rate the county government on transparency and the public's access to records? If you consider it adequate, please explain why. If you think improvements are needed, please describe them and why they are important.The County Board strives to be transparent and allow public access to records. The County Board needs a more uniform disclosure policy for when these questions arise. A uniform policy of disclosure would help control the County's legal liability for what should or should not be disclosed.Name one concrete program you'll create or personnel move you'll make to improve efficiency in the office or make it more successful. Explain how it will be funded and how you will overcome any obstacles to initiating it.I would create a program where all entities receiving County funding would need to agree to, and cooperate with, a compliance and financial audit at any time so notified in order to receive the funds. Whenever public funds are involved, recipients of those funds should be able to comply with standard accounting practices and be prepared to have their financial records audited. The policy would include making these audits available for public inspection. Random audits by the County Auditor's office would not necessarily require new funding to initiate this program.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?While I am not a proponent of more government, I believe we need to consider a Regional Water Authority. After an extensive study of McHenry County groundwater supplies, the engineer's presentation to the Board showed that the water aquifer we draw from encompasses an area from Southwest Cook County to near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In McHenry County, we can control growth, maintain and expand our groundwater recharge areas, and still have future issues with our groundwater supplies if these other areas drawing from the same aquifer do not incorporate the same policies.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.My inspiration would have to come from past leaders. Leaders that history has proven worthy of admiration.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Right is right and all the excuses in the world don't make wrong right.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would have taken the time to volunteer more.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Logic and Statistics. These lead to good decision making.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Your a good person, trust your judgment.