Candace Kenyon: 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: Round Lake ParkWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Round Lake Park Village boardAge: 53Family: Married, three children.Occupation: Web development designEducation: AAS in Multimedia Communications, College of Lake County, expected 2012Civic involvement: St. Joseph School Marketing CommitteeElected offices held: Trustee, Round Lake Park, 2007-2011Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Breaking ground on Main Street this year and seeing through to the completion of its renovation. This will also trigger the economy by creating jobs in the Village.Key Issue 2 Keeping the Village fiscally responsible and within its means.Key Issue 3 Ensuring that business and residence property owners keep properties maintained and appealing, and in conformance to building code standards, as this will continue to entice visitors to our Village.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I am the best candidate for the job of trustee because I seek solutions to problems, and do my research prior to making decisions. For example, for the last half of a century, each administration of the Village of Round Lake Park has recognized the need to renovate Main Street, and has approached this quandary by putting another committee in place to #147;study#148; the situation. My approach was to recommend stopping #147;studying#148; and start #147;doing#148; by securing funds in order to get the job done. Thanks to a team effort by our Village Board, we were able to place a referendum on the 2009 ballot polling the residents to ask whether the Village should issue its bonds for the purpose of fixing Main Street. The referendum was approved by our residents, and work is expected to begin soon, contingent on receipt of the last approval needed from IDOT.Given the delicate balance between the need for revenue and over-taxing local businesses, what is your opinion of your community's present level of local sales taxes? Is the tax just right, too low or too high? Explain.The last thing this community needs right now is additional tax increases, especially with the increase of state income taxes on our citizens. Our sales tax is right where it should remain at the present time.Talking with your friends and neighbors, what seems to be their biggest public safety concern? Explain the concern as you see it, and discuss how you think it should be addressed.With the economy in such poor shape, and people losing their jobs, and homes going into foreclosure, people worry about the possible increase of vagrants, vagrancy, and possible damages to vacated houses. In addition, unmaintained lots can cause safety concerns if our children happen to wander onto lots sprinkled with debris such as broken glass. Our Chief of Police has already addressed this concern by increasing patrol and inspections of vacant houses. Broken windows can be boarded up in order to deter vagrancy.In these tight economic times, municipal budgets have to be prioritized. Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?Due to discussions of collective bargaining matters currently underway between its public body and its employees or their representatives, I prefer not to discuss budget issues in detail. Suffice to say, our Board has already trimmed the budget in several areas, from major restructuring of the building department, to reducing clerical staff hours and shortening the work week, to eliminating unnecessary expenses such as Village-issued cell phones Village Board Members voluntarily relinquished, choosing to use and pay for their own cell phones.What#146;s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?About a year ago, the Village had an opportunity to purchase a vacated residence for $1.00. I was the only trustee to vote #147;yes#148; for the acquisition, and we lost the opportunity to start a program of buying, fixing up, and re-selling residences at minimal cost to the Village. Not only would this help beautify the village, it could benefit prospective buyers by keeping the price of the home reasonable and therefore attainable even in today#146;s economy.