Ian Macdonald: 2021 candidate for Hoffman Estates Park District board

Bio

City: Hoffman Estates

Age: 41

Occupation: Mechanical Engineering Manager at Caterpillar

Civic involvement: I currently sit on the Hoffman Estates Historic Sites Commission as well as a community rep for park district board.

Q&A

Q. Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you, and if so, what is it?

A. As a father of two young boys and a resident of Hoffman Estates; I have a vested interest in providing guidance to the Park District allowing us to improve and develop programs to suit the younger families in this community.

Q. Did your park district continue to adequately serve its constituents during the disruptions caused by the pandemic? If so, please cite an example of how it successfully adjusted to continue providing services. If not, please cite a specific example of what could have been done better.

A. Yes the park district continues to serve the community with class programming, fitness facilities and specialized training or coaching.

Q. In light of our experiences with COVID-19, what safeguards/guidelines should you put in place to address any future public health crises?

A. The protocols and practices used by the park district follows the universal guideline provided by the governing bodies for both school districts and government entities.

Q. How has the pandemic affected the park district's offerings and use of facilities. Are there other ways the park board can fulfill the mission of a park district during these times?

A. Did not respond.

Q. How has the pandemic affected the park district's revenue? How has that been addressed on the expense side?

A. The park districts revenue has suffered through COVID19, the park district staff has done a great job in managing the costs through reduced staff and offering new and innovative ways of learning.