Maureen Yates: 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: BarringtonWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Barrington Village Board Age: Candidate did not respond.Family: Married to Peter Yates, soon to celebrate 40th anniversary; 5 children, Stephanie, Sharon, Lyndsay, Mark and Nicolaus. 10 grandchildren. Naturalized citizen; Born in England of Irish parents and Irish born grandparents; especially proud of my Jewish grandmother.Occupation: Floral designer, wedding planner; previously para-legalEducation: London University: BA. Eng. Business college: Degree in Commerce. I.Q.Test 111Civic involvement: On board of charity in Brookfield, Illinois - 16 years; President for 6 years. Support many animal rights and environment protection organizations. Support Home of the Sparrow; Support women's rights organizations. Ran for Congress 2012. Received 6,000 votes.Elected offices held: Board president of national charity - 16 years; president for 6 years.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?Wide experience in many fields - politics, finance, real estate, law and not-for-profit organizations. I have also lived in 5 different countries in my life - England, Germany, South Africa, West Indies and U.S.A.What is your opinion of your community's present level of local sales and property taxes? Is the tax just right, too low or too high? Explain.Properties are selling far below true market value due to high taxes and poor management of the Village. The business market is bleak with many vacant properties and many failed businesses. Sales taxes too high to allow businesses to make profits.Rate the efficiency of your town's police and fire coverage. Are the departments well prepared for the next decade? What, if anything, should be changed? Do you have specific public safety concerns?The actual encumbents of our police force and fire departments work well; but are less than regulations for staffing numbers. In fact, for the number of residents in our Village, we should have 2 fully-staffed ambulances and we only have 1 with the right number of staff. (Second has only recently been acquired). If ever there is a major train accident (more and more likely as CN increases train, train size and the antiquity of their rolling stock; it would be catastrophic.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?The White House is a threat to the current budget. It was never examined by an historic buildings expert before the purchase and is now in bad state with no roof in all the cold weather. Not enough money is spent on roads; there are no plans increasing village prosperity. Office space and commercial properties are vacant, with no plans to find tenants. Public safety needs more money. Forget the law suit and the under-pass!What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?Build multi-story garage at train station like Palatine's. I have several ideas for decreasing traffic congestion - difficult to explain with limited space. Encourage new business - making sure not to duplicate current businesses.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Involve Barrington taxpayers in making the Village more prosperous - its their money! Two-way website for residents' comments and suggestions.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Dr. Elizabeth Warren, Dr. Jane GoodallWhat's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Honesty and courageIf life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would go to a US university and get an additional degree.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?English. I read and write constantly and love political writing. I have been able to get very good jobs using my writing skills.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Never give up.