Stephen Smouse: 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: AntiochWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Antioch Township Supervisor Age: 64Family: Wife:GerianneDaughter Son in law Casey and Rich Hafferkamp 4 grandchildrenMother Betty Smouse3 brothers 1 sisterOccupation: Antioch Township SupervisorEducation: Antioch High School Class of 1970Attended Millikin UniversityGraduated Worsham College 1978Paramedic State of Illinois 1994Civic involvement: Steering Committee Ride Lake County WestAntioch Rotary Club 25 Yr. retiredAntioch Historical SocietyPresident Hillside Cemetery AssnPast Antioch Plan CommissionPast Antioch Arbor Day CommitteeElected offices held: Antioch Township Trustee 1997-99Antioch Township Supervisor 1999 to presentQuestions Answers Name the three most important goals or objectives this board should tackle in the coming term. Prioritize them, and briefly discuss why you believe each to be critical, and how the board should go about addressing them.Continue support of transportation through our own programs and Ride Lake County West.Continue general assistance and senior programs in progress.Work for further expansion of our park programs even though grant programs are on hold.What should be the primary responsibility of township government?As per state statute:General AssistanceProperty AssessmentMaintenance of Township HighwaysIn the 21st Century, with municipalities gobbling up vacant land, why are townships needed? Should they be serving a new role? If so, what?Townships have different duties than municipalities and we perform these duties more efficiently than any other government entity in the state.(Wendell Cox Report 2012) We are neighbors serving neighbors and are directly responsible to out electors.Are there any township offices that should be eliminated or consolidated?For Antioch Township NoCan you identify some township expenses/programs that could be trimmed or eliminated to reduce the tax burden?We run our programs at a bare bones minimum. We have frozen property taxes for the past four years and continue to operate all of our programs while being in the black with no loans and ample reserves.It can be done!What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Township government is a basic, simple and caring neighbor to neighbor entity.Making it more complex would hurt everyone. Along with my duties I also plow snow and cut grass and help maintain our parks but keeping the township in the black financially is my top priority.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.I want leaders like Senators Everett Dirksin and Paul Douglass who were gentlemen and friends despite being on opposite sides of the aisle.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Responsibility for taking care of yourself and your family. Working hard is not optional.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Knowing my grandfathers who died too young.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?History. We constantly learn from the past and if not we are condemned to repeat the mistakes of the past, this is the truth.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Hard work and taking care of family and community will give you the greatest satisfaction. No regrets if you live this way.