Joe Schmitt: 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: WaukeganWebsite: http://joeschmitt.usOffice sought: Lake County board District 9Age: 59Family: Divorced, 1 Daughter, Barbara and 4 grand childrenOccupation: President and Founder of Former Inmates Striving Together (F.I.S.T.) Inc.Education: A.A. College of Lake County 2002 A.S. Lincoln Trail College 2003Civic involvement: Board Member of F.I.S.T. Inc. Board Member of Waukegan Green Town Member Waukegan Main StreetElected offices held: noneHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: Having spent time in the Illinois Department of Corrections caused me to reevaluate the direction my life had taken This epiphany led me to create the phenomonally successful organization Former Inmates Striving Together. A powerful model that has impacted hundreds of former inmates and helped them to redirect themselves towards productive lives in mainstream society. This organization and I have a dynamic relationship with the city of Waukegan and Lake County. It is through this symbiotic association that my desire to run for the Lake County Board District 9 was born.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 To build a closer partnership between Lake County and the City of Waukegan to create a more vibrant economic environment for business and job growth in District 9 and all of Waukegan.Key Issue 2 To advocate for accuracy, consistency and farness in property assessments and taxation.Key Issue 3 To continue to maintain a balanced budget while ensuring that the high caliber of services provided by the County is not eroded.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?A close look needs be taken with an eye toward identifying redundant, unneccesary or costly programs or services that fall outside of the core mission of County government.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?We are contractually obligated to build a golf course at Fort Sheridan. However, I think we should look at a very small 9 Hole course simlar to the Greeshire Golf Course that is operated by the Waukegan Park District.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.Government has a duty to at least examine any potential opportunities to realize a significant cost savings to the tax payers. If such cost savings can be realized without an erosion of services, such opportunities should be considered.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?Candidate did not respond.Should the county continue to pursue open space policies' Why or why not?There is a small percentage of the population of Lake Countyians who use the Forest Preserves and each parcel of land that is purchased not only costs the tax payers the price of the purchase, but there are access, security and other operational costs and that land comes off of the tax roles. Futher it is not available for comercial develepoment. i.e. Ft. Sheridan I would support a moratorium on further land acquistion.