Barbara Porch: 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: AntiochWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Antioch Village boardAge: 54Family: My husband, Steve, and I raised our three children in Antioch and enjoy having our three grandsons live in Antioch.Occupation: Executive DirectorEducation: College of Lake County, Grayslake, ILCivic involvement: My position with the Antioch Chamber of Commerce allows me to work with most of Antioch's Civic Groups to assist with their fundraising and events.Elected offices held: Village Trustee, Antioch, 1999-2007Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: Candidate did not respond.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Lessening the tax burden in Antioch: Antioch's Village Board needs to be proactive and develop other revenue streams rather than expecting our residents to carry a heavy tax burden.Key Issue 2 Increase Employment in Antioch We need to retain our current business base, while working with state and county officials to bring more light industrial and professional businesses to Antioch.Key Issue 3 Open Government People are tired of ""politics"", whether it is at a national or state level. Antioch is a small municipality...we don't need to play the ""political"" game. Antioch's Village Board should listen to our residents and treats everyone with respect. All issues should be considered with an open mind. Board Members should be taking the pulse of our community by being available and reaching out into the community to hear what issues are important to our Antioch Residents. A good trustee should do more listening than talking. The process of governing needs to be respected. There are laws to follow and ordinances to observe. As a Village Trustee, I would respect the governmental process and insist the Board do the same at all times . . . open government.Questions Answers Antioch has recently instituted a utility tax on electricity, gas and telephones. Do you support that tax, and why or why not?This is the 2nd time the Village of Antioch has implemented a utility tax on its residents in the past 10 years. The 1st time a utility tax was instituted, it was used to repay monies to the Dolly Spiering Fund which the Village had spent. That money had orginally been bequested to benefit the Antioch Senior Center. Once that fund was repaid, the utility tax was absolished. I want the Village to be proactive towards establishing new methods of revenue generating that don't negatively impact our residents, but could lighten their current tax burden.Should Antioch proceed with plans to build a new aquatic center in Williams Park? If so, how would you ensure the financial success of the center amid concerns about competition from similar facilities in neighboring towns?Quality of life is very important to our resident. Antioch needs to provide long range recreational facilities to our residents. In the past 10 years the Village had recognized that Williams Park is very limited in size. To plan for a new improved pool, you also have to plan for ample parking. Also, this could negatively impact the Antioch Lion's Club Pavillon and the Antioch Public Library District. I would challenge the Board to develop a plan to begin implementation on a recreational facility that would have a 20-40 year lifespan and would offer year-round recreational activities for our residents.Are you in favor of spending the money needed to bring Lake Michigan water to Antioch? Why or why not?The Village recently completed a new Water Treatment Facility for Antioch that cost $18 Million Dollars. Although I do not see an immediate need to connect to Lake Michigan water, the Village should always be proactive and have long-range plans for the future.With the Lake Villa parks and recreation department shutting down, should Antioch pursue those residents as potential customers? Why or why not?Anytime Antioch has a marketable service to offer, whether it is an event, a pool, or it's Business Community, Antioch should pursue our neighboring Communities as well as Antioch's Community. In some instances our Antioch Residents should have an ""Antioch Resident"" preferred pricing. Antioch should not put the financial burden of amenities just on Antioch's residents, bringing in additional users will ultimately lower pricing.What do you think the village must do to move forward on the development of the Antioch Market Place property?Antioch MarketPlace would bring in sales and property tax revenue which the Village needs. This revenue would lessen the tax burden to our residents. The Village should determine the financial stability of the developer and the developer's willingness to move forward with this project in this economic climate and work together to benefit Antioch.