Joe Cantore: 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: Oak BrookWebsite: http://joecantore.comOffice sought: DuPage Forest Preserve District 2Age: Candidate did not respond.Family: Candidate did not respond.Occupation: Partner and property manager of a commercial/industrial/residential real estate company, co-owner of vending equipment companyEducation: #NAME?Civic involvement: -Former Commissioner, Oakbrook Terrace Planning and Zoning Commission, (2 years, 1996-1998) -Member, The Conservation Foundation -Member, Illinois Arborist Association -Former Volunteer Teacher, Marmion Academy (2 years) -Volunteer Police Officer (13Elected offices held: -Commissioner, District 2, Forest Preserve District of DuPage County -Former Alderman, City of Oakbrook Terrace (1998-2002)Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 -Continued support of the Forest Preserve mission, conservation, recreation and education. Currently, we lead the nation in many components of these primary goals.As examples, our restoration efforts on the West Branch of the Du Page River are unparalKey Issue 2 -Continued support of long term management and planning with programming and capital improvements.The Forest Preserve's land acquisition program has slowed down considerably in recent years. Consequently, much of the focus of long-term managementandKey Issue 3 -The District's financial condition.The District's financial condition is one of our main priorities and must be monitored and maintained.The District operates on a five-year financial plan and I am happy to report we are not only fiscally secure now,Questions Answers Do you support continuing the effort to acquire County Lakes Golf Club in Naperville? Why or why not?The Forest Preserve Commission will have to weigh and measure the costs of continuing to pursue this acquisition. When the District began this acquisition years ago, they did it for three main reasons:-Maintaining open space in an area of the county that did not have nearly as much as other parts of the county-Storm water retention in an area that was plagued by flooding issues-Providing recreational opportunities in one of the most densely populated areas of the countyUnquestionably, the people in that part of the county need more open space and the acquisition is still viable for the three reasons mentioned above.However, the District has already incurred significant expenses in attempting to acquire it.My continued support (or lack thereof) will be dependent upon projected future expenses.Should the district be in the golf course business' If so, please explain the benefit. If not, please detail why. Should the district consider selling any of its holdings'Not necessarily. Although the Downstate Forest Preserve Act allows Forest Preserve Districts to own and manage golf courses, in some situations it is the only opportunity people have to enjoy open space.Golf alone, is not the reason Forest Preserve Districts own golf courses, it is the access to open space and the other ancillary benefits. One of the main functions of our golf courses (which many people don't realize) is storm water retention.Literally, the golf courses are in large part why the surrounding areas (and homes) don't flood during significant rain events.At Oak and Maple Meadows the storm water retention and resultant protection for surrounding residents is essential. I would prefer a native landscape, but if the only opportunity to preserve open space is through a golf course, they do become important.As for the question of selling any District holdings, no, the Forest Preserve District should not consider selling any of its holdings.In my opinion open space relates directly to the quality of life in Du Page County. Our forefathers had the vision to preserve, protect and restore significant tracts of land, and we should continue to be the stewards that provide open space and outdoor opportunity for all of our residents. The only holding the District has sold recently is a little more than an acre of blacktop that the District would have had to maintain ad infinitum at taxpayers' expense (the ?ring road? at the new Navistar facility)Comment on the forest preserve's current land acquisition policy: Too aggressive? Too passive? Just right?Our current land acquisition policy is just right.We look for properties providing connecting linkages for trails, inholdings in existing preserves, buffers along stream corridors and those areas vital in the protection and preservation of our natural resources.During my tenure on the board I have been ardently opposed to the use of imminent domain or condemnation and, except in extraordinary circumstances (such as clearing the title for a willing seller), am still opposed.