Q&A with Pete Merkel, Sandra Salgado and Jeff Thirtyacre
In the race for McHenry County Board District 4, incumbent Peter Merkel of McHenry, a Republican, is challenged by Republican Sandra Salgado of McHenry and Democrat Jeff Thirtyacre of Spring Grove.
Q: What is your Number 1 campaign issue?
Merkel: Continue to support our conservative approach to financing county government. In this current financial crisis we have been able to curtail spending, reduce expenses, and continue to provide necessary services while revenues have been dropping. We have remained financially strong and our bond rating has been upgraded at a time when many government agencies are facing a serious budget shortfalls.
Salgado: Fiscal responsibility. Now more than ever we as the County Board need to analyze all expenditures to ensure we do not get into deficit spending. There is currently several areas that could be cut all together or scaled back with the County and I will continue to address these. This includes outrageous membership dues, overtime in one department for parades and to work the county fair, and elected official increases.
Thirtyacre: Bring back jobs to McHenry County.
Q: What is your Number 2 campaign issue?
Merkel: Transportation. This is the No. 1 concern from all of our residents. We need to move forward with several transportation improvements that are in the county's 10 year program.
Salgado: Transportation. The economic growth in McHenry County is directly related to our ability to transport goods and to have an infrastructure that supports business, families, and recreational travel. We need to continue to maintain our current roads and responsibly fund our future improvements. We need to continue to work with our Legislators and adjacent municipalities to fund our needed projects.
Thirtyacre: Commuting issues in our county.
Q: As revenues, both from local sources and the state, are likely to keep falling in the year ahead, how should the county adjust its spending priorities related to the office you are seeking? Please be as specific as possible.
Merkel: Our elected county officers and appointed department heads have done an outstanding job of trimming costs and reducing spending within their departments in the last few years. If this economic downturn continues we may be looking at program or service level reductions. If we get to this point cuts may be done on a priority basis.
Salgado: The county has done and will continue to analyze is spending based on revenue. The county's budget process expects departments to hold to a no growth budget and all departments have done so. In fact, many have decreased spending by working with the County Board in analyzing their budgets. This approach to balancing the budget is stronger than ever and requires by in from all department heads and elected officials.
Thirtyacre: A restructuring is necessary on what is important and what is not. Stop paying themselves for travel it is part of the position. To represent our county is why they run for office not to drain the county of funds. If you want a job that doesn't deal with people work in a cemetery.
Q: The McHenry County Board this summer froze salaries for its members, as well as those of the sheriff, treasurer and county clerk. Do you support the pay freeze? Why or why not?
Merkel: Many governmental agencies have begun to reduce staffing levels through attrition and layoffs. Others have frozen pay levels or have sought concessions from bargaining units. I supported the pay freeze and would support expanding it if our financial condition would make it necessary.
Salgado: Yes. I also think we have much more to do in this area. When an individual runs for an office and decides that they want to work for the people, then they should be willing to do so at what the position pays. I do not feel that the citizens of McHenry County owe our elected officials a raise or increase. These offices should not be designed to carry someone through their whole career but that is what has happened in McHenry County. This is the public sector and I feel the reward to an elected official is being re-elected.
Thirtyacre: No, Because if you have money to redo roads that don't need it. Don't assign contracts under open bidding then why would you punish your employees?
Q: According to the U.S. Census, McHenry County's Hispanic population grew from about 19,600 in 2000 to about 36,000 in 2008. What challenges does that present for the office you seek, and how would you address them?
Merkel: The challenge for all governmental agencies is to provide services for any growing population. We have experienced a large overall growth and a significant rise in the Hispanic population. The most difficult problem our agencies have is how we can make new residents aware of the programs and services that are available to them. We need to increase our outreach to all segments of the population.
Salgado: The only challenges I have had with this issue is finding is finding a good method to reach out to them to discuss issues. Often there is a language barrier with the adults who have their children interpreting for them. Our departments, such as the McHenry County Health Department have secured grants and used other means of getting our services out to them but there is much room to grow. We need to have more cultural education in some departments so that we can maintain our high standard of customer service.
Thirtyacre: Why would there be any challenges with and increase in that population? I believe we have challenges with an increase in racist people in this county. We need to deal with them.
I feel this question is bias.
Q: Kane County, which like McHenry initially banned video gaming machines from bars and other approved establishments, now will allow the machines. Should McHenry County follow suit, or should it remain opposed? How is your position best for county voters?
Merkel: I voted to allow the video machines in the first presentation to the County. I do not believe this would be a detriment to the resident of the County. We already have numerous gaming opportunities available to the public: state sponsored lottery, bingo, casinos, OTB (horse racing), and not for profit agencies like churches and fraternal organizations, and charities that sponsor gaming activities to support community programs.
Salgado: Allowing video gamming to support State Legislators inability to responsibly spend money is ludicrous. This band aid approach will put us no more ahead than the lottery did for education. Once again, local governments are faced with these decisions because the decision could not be made at the State Level. If Legislators felt this was the answer, then they would have passed it without any concern but unfortunately because this is a hot issue, they were unwilling to risk the vote. My decision puts the main issues back on the legislators table and says, “Do your job and fix the state budget!”
Thirtyacre: Yes, Because we should do everything possible to help business succeed not fail. If you are going to fund private dredging and sport projects with Federal tax money then you need to give raises where they are deserved.
Q: McHenry received a two-year delay on a deadline to create a drug court, leaving it as the only collar county without one. Do you agree with the postponement? Should the county set up a court sooner? If so, what are the obstacles? How would you fund it?
Merkel: I agree with the postponement until we can prepare a program that will function properly within the court system and we have the ability to fund and staff this new program. Funding should come from any fines levied in the court system for drug related offenses.
Salgado: The county is currently putting all the procedures and fixings in place so that when the time comes, the court will be ready to begin. In the meantime, I would encourage if at all possible starting a pilot program.
Thirtyacre: No. It should have been set up already. We should be working for a better way of life. It can be funded with the money from the cars and homes that are confiscated from the drug dealers.
Name of Candidate: Peter J. Merkel
Hometown: McHenry
Running for: McHenry County Board District 4
Party affiliation: Republican
Candidate Incumbent? Yes