Rester Dogboe: 2024 candidate for McHenry County Board District 3

Bio

Party: Democrat

Office Sought: McHenry County Board District 3

City: Crystal Lake

Age: 43

Occupation: IT Auditor

Previous offices held: None

Why are you running for this office, whether for reelection or election for the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you? If so, what?

I am running for McHenry County Board because I have seen firsthand the inefficiencies in our public sector and the waste of our hard-earned tax dollars. As an IT auditor, I know how to identify and eliminate inefficiencies, and I believe we can improve the way our various departments operate to cut costs without sacrificing services. I am also motivated by the growing polarization and lack of focus on what truly matters to our community. I am committed to putting the interests of the people first, ensuring responsible spending, and fostering collaboration to address the real issues facing McHenry 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?

As an IT auditor by profession, I bring a keen understanding of how technology and efficient systems can improve operations and reduce costs. My top priority would be to address inefficiencies in the way our tax dollars are managed, ensuring that McHenry County operates in a more fiscally responsible manner. I believe we can modernize our processes, eliminate waste, and cut unnecessary expenses, all while maintaining or improving the services we provide to residents. My goal is to bring a fresh perspective, with a focus on accountability and transparency, to ensure that every dollar is spent wisely for the benefit of our community.

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 largest portion of our property tax bill comes from school districts, with the County Board directly influencing only 5-7%. Yet, every bit counts, and we must balance necessary infrastructure and services with the rising cost of living. My opponent claims to support increased spending for new Sheriff’s deputies alongside a 3% tax cut but has not proposed any specific service cuts to make this feasible. You can’t increase spending while cutting taxes without reducing costs elsewhere. I believe in offering real solutions, not empty promises and rhetorics. Once on the board, I’ll review our current programs and budget to suggest practical improvements and efficiencies. As an IT Auditor, I have expertise in identifying areas to cut costs through technological improvements, and I’m committed to using that experience to benefit the county and its residents.

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

Yes, I believe more bipartisanship and cooperation are essential on the McHenry County Board. Our focus should be on serving the community, not partisan politics. To foster greater collaboration, I would prioritize open communication, actively listening to all perspectives, and finding common ground on issues that matter most to our residents—like high property taxes, infrastructure, public safety, and economic growth. I would also encourage regular bipartisan work sessions to build trust among board members and develop practical, shared solutions. By working together, we can create stronger, more effective policies for McHenry County.

What role should the county play in combating the opioid crisis?

Addressing the opioid crisis is critical to the health and well-being of our residents. Through various county departments we can:

● Direct impacted residents to healthcare providers, social services agencies, and community organizations that are available to help them break the cycle of addiction;

● Collect, analyze, and share information about drug-related incidents and deaths so we can identify the root causes and act faster to intervene

● Develop and implement outreach programs to educate the public in schools and community groups. Recognizing that drug addiction is an illness, we should continue to prioritize finding ways to help people break the cycle of addiction and become fully functioning, contributing members of our community. We should also ensure that the Sheriff’s office is adequately funded to enforce drug laws; there are clearly bad actors who consistently violate the law, deal drugs, and make the problem worse.

What role should the county play in increasing affordable housing in the region?

Young people growing up in McHenry County find it difficult to live and raise families here because the cost of housing is so high. Households that earn 30-80% of the median income may be able to work in McHenry County, but they can’t afford to live here.

The county’s Workforce Housing Workgroup spent the last year studying this issue. They articulated the specific challenges and opportunities, and concluded that more time is needed to develop potential solutions – which likely need to be developed through joint effort between the county, municipalities, non-profit agencies, private industry, and state and federal agencies. We should also see if we can learn from other places in the US where approaches to address a similar problem succeeded.