Christopher Pearson: 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: Lake BarringtonWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Lake Barrington Village Board Age: 45Family: Married, SonOccupation: Chief Operating Office, Sunnyside CorporationEducation: Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL - BA, Sociology, 1992Civic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I'm not a political insider motivated by a personal agenda. I have no interest in becoming a career politician. I have a well rounded business background and believe strongly in the future of Lake Barrington. My view is to always challenge the process, have a fresh approach, and engage others. I believe in Government of the people, by the people, for the people.What is your opinion of your community's present level of local sales and property taxes? Is the tax just right, too low or too high? Explain.Taxes are necessary, however they are too high and the proceeds are mismanaged. What we see too often is the government expects to collect more and spend less, and what ends up happening, is they collect less and spend more. That needs to change at all levels, local, state and federal.Rate the efficiency of your town's police and fire coverage. Are the departments well prepared for the next decade? What, if anything, should be changed? Do you have specific public safety concerns?Police and fire department resources are always strained by the demands of the community and the events they're in. Lake Barrington spends a substantial portion of its general fund budget on outsourced police services. As the community changes and grows we must determine if funding levels are appropriate for the services provided. A safe community should always be a top priority.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?Budgeting must be conducted from a real world, realistic approach. Revenue and expenses must be understood and balanced. Budgets and cash reserves have been a struggle for Lake Barrington for several years. My approach is to support a zero-based budgeting process. Roads, Garbage, and Police services represent almost 60% of the 2015 general fund budget. Payroll and Other Expenses represent 30%. Every line item should be reviewed each and every year.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?We need a focused direction for the future of Lake Barrington. We need to determine more clearly what Lake Barrington represents and what the village offers. More work needs to be done promoting Lake Barrington's lifestyle, community and businesses.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Finding the balance between residents concerns and economic development. Determining and implementing the correct path to increasing property values. Protecting and expanding the rural charm, wetlands and open spaces in Lake Barrington.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Gary White, Co-founder of Water.org. Working to bring clean water and sanitation to more than a billion people in developing nations.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Work hard and do the best you can at whatever challenge or opportunity that you face in life.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?An earlier understanding, and greater appreciation, of the value of a good education and the impact it has on oneself.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Statistics, data surrounds us. How it is organized and understood is critical in understanding and solving life's many challenges.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Work hard at everything you do win or lose, listen more than you speak, think things through, and always be aware of everything around you.