Michael J. Conway: 2024 candidate for Lake County Board District 5

Bio

Party: Democrat

Office Sought: Lake County Board District 5

City: Lake Villa

Age: 59

Occupation: Attorney

Previous offices held: Lake Villa District 41 School Board member

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?

I am running for Lake County Board because I enjoy being a public servant for my community members and I want to be an advocate at the county level for any issues that impact the residents of District 5. While I decided to run for this position without any one specific agenda issue, I do believe it is imperative to spend our tax dollars in a responsible manner.

One example which I think should be addressed is to provide the Lake County Sheriff sufficient budget to fully staff the Lake County jail. For almost a year, we have been sending Lake County jail inmates to McHenry County because there is not sufficient staffing in Lake County, and I believe the money we are paying McHenry County would be better spent on hiring personnel in Lake County.

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?

I believe my experience as an attorney for 32 years, an educator at CLC for the past 25 years, and a school board member for Lake Villa School District 41 for 17 years have provided me an excellent foundation to be a highly effective Lake County Board member. I understand the importance of monitoring tax payer dollars while overseeing a $40 million budget for our school district and that experience will make for a smooth transition to reviewing and determining how to effectively use property tax dollars for the benefit of Lake County and District 5.

As an attorney in Lake County, I plan to participate on the Law and Judicial Committee for the board as I believe my knowledge of the court system in Lake County would provide excellent opportunities for experienced perspective on such issues.

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.

The county board should always strive to spend within the means of an annual budget that anticipates modest revenue increases on an annual basis. Revenue will be determined by property tax assessments, other taxes received from services provided, intergovernmental receipts, grants from federal resources, and charges for governmental services provided among other sources.

Expenditures need to be monitored on a department by department basis within the county and each department should develop methods to have long term sustainability for their respective budgets while maintaining excellent service standards the community deserves.

The most significant financial concerns occur when unexpected situations arise (i.e. global pandemic), however failure to take a long term replacement approach for infrastructure can also significantly impact expenses.

Does there need to be more bipartisanship and cooperation on the county board? If yes, what would you do to help make that happen?

I do believe at all levels of government, county board included, that bipartisan cooperation is imperative to accomplish the end goal — effectively working together and providing the best solutions for the benefit of the community.

This is exactly how I have governed on the Lake Villa District 41 school board in a nonpartisan elected position. I think it is critical for leaders to learn how to listen to another person’s point of view without being critical of the position. Then, after truly considering that perspective, being open to working through how that position may differ from your own.

Unfortunately in politics today, the word compromise has been interpreted as a sign of weakness. The best way government leaders can represent their respective communities is to be willing to work with everyone, regardless of their party affiliation, to create and implement win-win solutions.

What do you see as the greatest need in your district from a county (roads, etc) and forest preserve (facilities, amenities) standpoint?

Most significantly for District 5, protecting the Chain O’ Lakes is imperative. It is critical to work to preserve this natural resource that is vital to the community from a business, tourism, and environmental perspective. There is also an ongoing need to monitor the infrastructure of roadways and bridges in District 5.

Developing and adhering to a consistent schedule for the repair and replacement of roads and bridges is the best way to manage such expenses on an annual basis.

District 5 also has excellent forest preserve locations (Bluebird Meadow, Grant Woods, and Sun Lake) which need to be maintained. An ideal method of involving the community would be to survey district members to request their recommendations for proposed improvements they would like to see for the forest preserves.

What have constituents in your district been asking about that you would like to see addressed in some fashion?

Most constituents ask about making sound decisions when spending property tax dollars and doing whatever possible to avoid wasteful spending. I also have had a few community members ask whether anything can be done about the Lake County jail sending inmates to McHenry County for temporary housing.

That is definitely an issue I want to see addressed to ensure that the Lake County Sheriff has an adequate annual budget to afford more personnel to appropriately staff the Lake County jail. This would save the county money by not having to pay McHenry County for a service that Lake County should provide.

Is the county/forest board behind the pay curve compared to other jurisdictions and how can the county/forest board best strive to attract and retain key employees?

I do not believe that the Lake County Forest Preserve Board is “behind the pay curve” as a whole. The average annual salary is approximately $68,000 and the median salary is very similar to that. There are approximately 230 employees in the Forest Preserve District, and the highest salary was in excess of $250,000.

While that highest salary has an impact on the overall average, the overall HR budget for the Forest Preserve District should be reviewed to consider a higher entry level salary while leveling off the higher salaries. This would help to attract new employees. A positive way to retain key employees is creating incentives and benefits that allow for advancement and promotions within the organization.

Do you think the forest preserve should proceed with an agreement with Waukegan Port Authority for 52 acres of Waukegan Savanna? Why or why not?

I am pro environment and in favor of protecting our forest preserves for the benefit of our community members use as well as for the ecosystem as a whole.

Based on information I have learned throughout the course of my campaign, I believe that I will support the sale of a portion of the Waukegan Savanna to the Waukegan Port Authority. I feel compromise is a tool that must become more routine in our political environment.

The benefits for the entirety of Lake County for the sale of the property do outweigh the “loss” of the portion of land in the Waukegan Savanna. That area is not typically utilized by the community as it is an annexed area away from the main public use area of the Waukegan Savanna.

If a sale of the land is to be approved, I would strongly encourage my fellow board members to consider a compromise that would allow for improvements to the Waukegan Savanna and Lyons Woods Forest Preserve, which is also in Waukegan, that would offset the loss of the land in the sale.

Is there a general issue or concern on your radar you would like to see the county/forest board address?

I believe that a county board member should be actively engaged with community members. I have been out knocking on many doors in my district, introducing myself to the people of the community. I want everyone in my district to know that I am their county board member and that I value their opinion and input on issues. I want them to know that I am the person they should be contacting if a concern arises.

As a board member, I would hold routine town hall meetings and community forums to give my constituents consistent opportunities to meet with me and provide their feedback. While it is nice to send out a monthly email or an occasional flier in the U.S. Mail, having the opportunity to actually engage with the people of the district where I have lived for 29 years is the best way for me to effectively represent and work for my community.