Michael Rein: 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: WoodstockWebsite: http://voteforrein.comOffice sought: McHenry County board District 5Age: 47Family: Candidate did not respond.Occupation: Doctor Of ChiropracticEducation: Associates of Science from McHenry County College Bachelors of Science from National College of Chiropractic Doctor of Chiropractic from National College of Health SciencesCivic involvement: United States Marine Corp 1982-1986 Meritorious Mast-USMC Good Conduct Medal-USMC Marine Corp League Detachment #1009 Woodstock Chamber of Commerce Moose Lodge #1329 Habitat for Humanity McHenry County College Alumni Association for 3yrs. Coached girls volleyball at the high school and club level for 10yrs combined Supporter of area school programsElected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Effective and efficient government hinges on fiscal responsibility. Future needs are to be planned for as well as saved for in times of crisis and emergency. Current needs are to be sustainable based on real revenue. In these economic times, revenue is difficult to project. A conservative approach to all government spending should be put into place to meet the current fiscal obligations. All cost centers need to be evaluated and possibly restructured to meet the revenue projections. We can't expect tax payers to be cutting back and restructuring their finances and our local units of government not doing the same.Key Issue 2 The ability for our county to continue economic progress to sustain our workforce (and their families) requires us to look at the current infrastructure and transportation plan. Businesses will have a hard time locating to our county simply because our road systems are not adequate to support their needs.Because businesses have this hurdle our county is not fiscally viable as a satellite or parent company location. A major percentage of our workforce (tax payers) travel great distances to and from work. It is imperative that the county board address this issue. Fiscal accountability, private and public partnerships, andmunicipality engagement are imperative to successfully changing this situation.Key Issue 3 In the last 5-7 years, great strides have been made in technology, planning and available materials to achieve greater conservation of our resources. The County Board should support and adopt plans aimed protecting and promoting our natural resources and open spaces. All new private and public construction projects should be evaluated based on whether they implement green technologies and water conservation protection through cost effective measures. Analyzing these projects in accordance to the county's existing and future plans will assure greater accountability and protection of our land and water resources moving forward. It is the County Board's responsibility to address this issue in a proactive rather than reactive manner.Questions Answers McHenry County has managed the recession without a budgetary crisis like those in other counties. How do you ensure the county continues on that path and that reserves aren't depleted? Are there specific budget areas that need more attention?Even though McHenry County hasn't experienced a dire budgetary crisis, yet, if we don't develop fiscal plans that address the immediate and future needs now- our financial reserves will be compromised even further. This is not an efficient and effective way of managing our financial viability or the tax payers' money. Previous methods used to project revenue will not work in these recessive, economic times. Raising taxes should not be the first answer in meeting budgetary shortfalls. We need to spend within our means on the areas having the greatest impact on our growth and conservation plans. The County Board needs to look at all facets of its spending to determine what is necessary and what is not. I feel that if the tax payers have to do this -- governmental bodies must do the same. We need to lead by example.Does the McHenry County Board have a good transportation improvement plan? Please be specific and suggest whether you think anything is missing or should be scrapped.I think that the transportation improvement plan at this time is in need of serious ?updating. Our county was one of the fastest growing counties in the nation in the 2000's and the population has grown almost 70% since 1990. However the County Board failed to stay out front on this issue and because of this are far behind on meeting the needs of the people in McHenry County for now and the future. By promoting use of public transportation or people that bike could in the future decrease a lot of vehicles on the road. A good effective transportation plan that is coordinated with the municipalities could help shape the way people use transportation in the future.Does the county need to address its ethics policies' Why or why not? If so, how?All organizations need to continually review and refine ethics policies and procedures. The McHenry County Board is not exempt from this regular review. However, there should be consequences tied to ethical infringements. Elected officials need to make ethical choices in the best interest of the voters (tax payers) who put them in office. The County Board already has existing State laws to follow that are supported by local policy and procedure. Those are the policies and procedures which need to be upheld.Assess McHenry County's efforts thus far in terms of groundwater preservation and protection. What needs to be done now and in the future?The McHenry County Board has done the initial groundwork by establishing policies and procedures to protect and conserve our groundwater. Looking forward we need to integrate this issue in all planning efforts. Partnering with our local, state, and federal environmental experts should continue to be a priority. Researching other communities in the nation who have or are experiencing success through creative solutions and cutting-edge technologies would be in our best interest.Assess how the county health department approached the whooping cough outbreak. What should have been done differently?The health department did a good job by getting the information out to the schools, papers, and general community through their website or contacting them directly. Even though our county experienced a higher rate of whooping cough incidents based on state statistics, there were no deaths reported due to this outbreak. I feel the county health department did everything they could to inform while not creating panic. In this case, all the necessary steps where taken.