Susan Starrett: 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: North AuroraWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Kane County Board District 10 Age: 43Family: Candidate did not respond.Occupation: Administrator/CFO Starrett Medical AssociatesEducation: U of I - MBA - financeCivic involvement: Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame.Active in my church.Active with CASA.Advocate for women and children - domestic abuse. Advocate for local mental health and substance abuse treatment.Helped secure college scholarships for underprivileged youth.Elected offices held: Co-Chair Legislative Committee;Vice-Chair Public Health Committee;Finance and Budget Committee;Executive Committee;Jobs Committee;Riverboat Grant Committee;Economic Development Committee;Kane County Mental Health Task Force Member;Kane County Strategic Public Health Planning Commission - Member;Spearheading Taskforce on Reducing Recidivism in the Jails, Mental Health and Substance Abuse;Member Kane County Taskforce promoting Early Childhood Development.Questions Answers Do you support or oppose construction of the Longmeadow Parkway, including the use of a toll for the crossing over the Fox River?Kane County mayors of Northern Kane County have unanimously endorsed this project. My main concern is that the residents of my community do not have to pay for a bridge that probably helps McHenry County more than Kane. The payment for use will come from people using it, not the residents of my district. How can I be against a project that meets a transportation need for Kane County and is only paid for by the people using it?Do you agree with the Kane County State's Attorney, Kane County Public Defender and Kane County Sheriff that they require more staff? If so, where will the money come from to support that additional staff?How can anybody be against increasing law enforcement personnel and criminal justice staff in this time? The key to this is the funding. This requires a look at all our priorities to help find the funding. I fully support increasing the staff of these departments within our fiscal constraints.Do you support a completely frozen Kane County property tax levy, or would you support a non-referendum increase of the county's property tax levy to factor in new construction?I have campaigned and will continue to support a tax freeze on our property taxes in Kane County. I would never oppose my constituents having the opportunity to vote on a referendum and I would support their decision.What is your philosophy regarding the use of forest preserve district property? Are projects like the proposed cross country course for the former Settler's Hill Landfill appropriate?Settler's Hill needs to be developed so all my constituents can use it for passive recreational purposes. This should be done for all the residents of Kane County and not for special interest groups. It is important we do not disturb the landfill environment that could threaten the safety of the drinking water and air for the people of Kane County.Do you believe Kane County's elected officials, including the board, are fairly compensated? Or is it time to explore raises for all the elected offices?Some of our elected officials have not had a raise in over 12 years and yet continue to perform at a high level. Their compensation is well under many surrounding counties and thus we need to review this and present a systematic approach to this problem.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?We need to continue trying to find funding resources, both state and federal, for grants to improve economic development, mental health needs, programs for early childhood development and to help our elderly and to deal with women's health issues. I am already working in these areas to help bring this funding to Kane County.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.South Carolina Governor Nikki HaleyWhat is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Keep your promises.Determination.Honesty.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I prefer to look ahead and mold the future on what I learned in the past. I can only change the future.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Spanish. I used it everyday when I was on the professional tennis tour.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Be honest and true to yourself.