James Mitchell: Candidate Profile

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:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: LindenhurstWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Lake County board District 3Age: 68Family: Married. Grown children and 3 grand daughters.Occupation: Water plant operator since 1992.Education: Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Ill 9/01 - 5/03 School of Allied Health Professions, Enrolled in Master of Public Health Program Completed 18 hrs towards degree College of Lake County, Grayslake, Ill 9/91 - 12/00 Concentration in Civil TCivic involvement: Friends of the Lake Villa Public Library District: President 3/01-9/05, responsible for rebuilding membership, correcting non-for-profit status with federal and state agencies, established Foundation, organized used book sale, created several programs to improve community image. College of Lake County: Member Student Senate as Senator school years 96/97, 97/98 and 00/01, elected Treasurer, Student Body for school year 98/99, elected Student Body President for school year 99/00, CLC Representative to Student Advisory Committee of the Illinois Board of Higher Education 97-01; Chm Academic Affairs Sub-Committee of the Executive Board Member 99-01; active in several other CLC campus activities. Mallard Ridge Estates Homeowners Association President: 4/93 -- 4/97. Adult leader: Boy Scout Troop 190, 95 - 00; Coach Youth Iceless Hockey Association, 4/94 -- 4/98; Coach, Lindenhurst Youth Soccer League 9/93 -- 6/98.Elected offices held: Lake County Regional Board Of Education 1/02 - Present Re-elected to new 6 year term 4/07 -- 5/13 Lake Villa District Library 5/91 - 2/03 Elected to a new term of 6 years 4/07 -- 6/13 Lake County Board Member 1/89 - 12/90 Lake County Forest Preserve District 1/89 - 12/90 Fort Sheridan Commission 4/89 - 12/90 Illinois Pre-White House Conference Delegate 4/90 - 12/90 Prepared statewide and national library goals for 21st century Lake County Board Member 7/84 - 12/86 Lake County Forest Preserve District 7/84 - 12/86 Union Drainage District 2/80 - 9/87 President of a three member board 9/82-9/87 Highland Park Mosquito Abatement District 3/78 - 7/85 President of a three member board 3/81-7/85 West Deerfield Township Trustee 5/81 - 7/84Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NO!Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 There are two items which involve the Lake County Forest Preserve District:The Forest Preserve has a lot of land in Lake County. Most of the sites in Lake County could support community garden plots. The District could identify which areas, the number of 10x10 plots that could accommodate and then hold a lottery in the winter for the next season for distribution.The second is about jobs. Hydroponics is a green, healthy, sustainable industry that already provides many food choices. The Forest Preserve District has the land available to build several hydroponic gardening facilities recycling sewage treatment plan effluent to make this plan feasible to employ out of work individuals and supplement the many food banks with fresh produce. There would be great partnership opportunities to complete GED's, to obtain practical experience, stable work history and/or college credit credits in many disciplines. These are full or part time jobs with a future. The larger the facility more jobs.Key Issue 2 We in Lake County should have a 5 year Healthy Community Plan that will be sustainable, which places Lake County Illinois in the top ten locations in the United States to work, live, recreate and retire with affordable health care. We already have many of these components in place in all of our communities. The Healthy Community Plan just needs to be defined, adopted and implemented to pull it together totally within all of the communities and the unincorporated areas.Key Issue 3 The legislation that created the Illinois Toll Highway Authority has created several problems that must be corrected either thru legislation or a class action law suit which prohibits distribution of tolls to the bond holders until:a fair share is paid for Stormwater management in Lake County like every other business and residence in Lake County is required. Second, a plan for air pollution abatement must be created which promotes fewer vehicles and/or reforestation for carbon sequestering to significantly reduce air borne contaminants. Third, employee compensation and retirement plans that must come from some other entity, private or not for profit, than the State of Illinois or any other successor governmental agency. Fourth, units of local government in Illinois must be allowed a secure opportunity to invest maximum surplus tax payer dollars in the lucrative bonds that the Toll Highway sells. 3% and 4 % returns look pretty nice right now!Questions Answers The county remains in the black, but property taxes across the region are high. Should programs be cut to save taxpayers money? If so, which ones and why?The program that should be cut is compensation for County Board Members. A $40,000 dollar + salary, with health care and retirement compensation is nothing more than 'legal plunder!' This is a volunteer job that barely requires 600 hours of work for both the Forest Preserve Board and the County Board. County Board members do not have enough County business hours of involvement to meet the minimum 1000 hours for IMRF retirement contributions. This would save the County almost $1,000,000. These are just volunteer jobs!What should be done with the Fort Sheridan golf course? If no building or management proposals come back from vendors, do you propose abandoning golf? If so, are you concerned about a lawsuit? If you propose building a course, how should it be funded?I think better input from the 3 surrounding communities is needed because of the traffic impacts. Combining golf with some other uses as a recreation destination for Lake County residents and vacationers is a good possibility. The land can always be open space. I am not worried about a law suit. It might even prompt a desirable outcome.The Winchester House nursing home recently was turned over to a private company for operation. Should other county or forest district departments be privatized to save taxpayers money? Please explain.I am not so sure that privatizing Winchester House was the best solution. I find it hard to believe that privatization can equitably compete with government agencies that are well managed. The problem with privatization is the loss of institutional memory, employment continuity and problems associated with absentee management. Not a good mix in my view.Is there a specific type of service or amenity that is lacking in your district? If so, how do you propose to provide and fund that?If we were to start with the County Board, it could be streamlined to seven people including an elected President with compensation if the notion was to still pay them. But let's start at the top!The Lake County government will be better served by panels of professionals within the county with the appropriate experience to give the County Board a top to bottom review of each functional area and report those findings to the newly seated board by 1 May 2013 in time for budget preparation. Some of the preliminary work designating the functional areas and taking applications for panel members can begin now. Formal start would be in January 2013.Should the county continue to pursue open space policies' Why or why not?There are probably more than these two. Bringing Lake Michigan water to Lake Villa Township and providing a more direct link to Venetian Village on the west side of Sand Lake from Grand Avenue down Douglas Lane thru the Duck Farm Forest Preserve.It may also facilitate the possibility of providing water and sewer services to the residents of Venetian Village and West Miltmore. It may also improve emergency services response times. The County has the wherewithal to design and build a roadway. Participation from the Forest Preserve and Lake Villa Township would also be included.The County and Forest Preserve should continue open space polices: to better protect the residential properties from storm water flooding; promote reforestation of appropriate areas to sustain a long term agribusiness financial plan for the Forest Preserve; to evaluate hunting in selected areas for deer, small game and fowl for conservation improvement, sustainability and fees.