Tom Wilbeck: 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: Barrington HillsWebsite: Tomwilbeck.comTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: McHenry County Board District 1 Age: 65Family: Sharon (wife - 42 yrs)Thomas IILindsayCorrieNatalieOccupation: retired Financial Services ExecutiveEducation: Bachelor Of Sciences - Accounting Northern Illinois University - 1972Associate Of Arts - Wright City College - 1970Civic involvement: Planning Commission - Seneca TownshipElected offices held: Trustee - Seneca Township 2001-2005 Trustee - McHenry County College20013-20014Questions 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?To serve the public as a tax payer watchdog while bringing a fresh, practical and common sense approach to make needed changes. The job of the trustee is to examine all the programs run by the board on which he or she sits and to determine (a) if all such programs are necessary and (b)are they being run efficiently.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?The priority would be to cut taxes immediately. McHenry county is losing population, experiencing a continual drop in home values which puts an increased burden on the existing tax payers. I will bring practical/common sense leadership back into county government. Review all departmental needs and implement changes immediately. I promise positive change as proven by my record at McHenry County College.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. In particular in the suburbs, President Preckwinkle has set a goal of eliminating unincorporated areas from county oversight. Do you agree with this approach? If so, how should the county go about it?McHenry county operates under a balanced budget but has permitted units such as Valley Hi nursing home to accumulate excess property taxes currently over $40 mil. All budgetary line items need scrutiny, top to bottom. The perceived "boom times" of the 1990's thru 2008 never transpired and programs need to be adjusted to coincide with the realities of today. It is the job of the board member not to accept the status quo and analyze revenue streams continually.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.Transparency can be improved. Board meetings should be televised and made available via webcast. I initiated such an ongoing program as soon as I took office as trustee at McHenry County College.Please list any elected office you have ever run for and what the result of that election was. Have you ever been appointed to fill an unexpired term?- Appointed as Seneca Township trustee in 2001 and subsequently was elected to the same post.- 2012 ran unsuccessfully for McHenry County Board Dist 2.- 2013 ran successfully as McHenry County College Trustee.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?A true tax payer watch dog that asks tough questions and makes tough decisions is greatly needed. New fresh, practical, common sense ideas are needed. The status quo/operating as usual is not always most beneficial. We need a collaborative - "think outside of the box" style of leadership. I will deliver that type of leadership.The county board needs to increase the use of shared inter county positions and services to enhance efficiencies and in turn save money. Several county functions can be shared and have worked well in the past. Lets bring this functionality of inter county sharing back.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Paul RyanHe is intelligent, possesses common sense and represents his constituents with a collaborative fiscal common sense. He is a no nonsense leader.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?That you must always practice The Golden Rule (do unto others as you would have them do unto you).If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Make more time to travel,to meet new people and experience diverse cultures.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?AccountingIt taught discipline, logic, and analytics.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Live by the Golden Rule.