Frank Wedig: 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://voteforwedig.blogspot.com/Office sought: McHenry County board District 5Age: Candidate did not respond.Family: MarriedOccupation: Flight AttendantEducation: B.A. - IL Benedictine College, Lisle IL M.B.A. - Northern IL Univ., DeKalb ILCivic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected 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 To reduce the county budget. Personal incomes of residents are down. The county has lost residents. Property values are down and will stay down for the foreseeable future. The county budget needs to reflect these economic realities.Key Issue 2 To make governing more transparent. Any potential conflicts of interest for elected officials need to be disclosed. The public needs to know who is lobbying the board and who the board is lobbying on behalf of the public. I will work with organizations that advocate for more transparency in government such as the IL Policy Institute.Key Issue 3 To increase public transportation options. Metra frequency needs to be increased beyond Crystal Lake. Pace bus service needs to be coordinated with Metra trains. New service needs to be instated for high volume traffic. For example, dedicated non-stop bus service between the Des Plaines Metra station and O'Hare Airport. The largest private employer in McHenry County is O'Hare. There needs to be a viable public transportation option for both, employees and passengers.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?I will say no to increased spending and taxes. County officials need to look at the big picture. The fiscal problems in Springfield will require more taxes. Local officials need to lighten the tax burden where they are able.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.The County?s response to traffic congestion has been very poor.? Building more roads and widening existing ones is not the answer. History has shown that? roads will fill up as soon as they are built, and the days of cheap gasoline are over. Expanding public transportation options is the only viable solution to the County?s traffic problems. Metra train service in McHenry County is an economic lifeline that needs to be strengthened by increasing the frequency of service past Crystal Lake. ?Additional Pace Bus service will not solve all our transportation needs, but it should be better coordinated with Metra. ?We also need an approach to suburban development that includes something besides additional low-density housing and strip-malls. Opportunities for walking, bike riding, and public transportation should be considered when approving zoning changes and development plans. Funding for increased public transportation options could come from gasoline taxes.Does the county need to address its ethics policies? Why or why not? If so, how?Yes, any potential conflicts of interest need to be disclosed. A major issue is property ownership and speculation. Any connection to undeveloped land by elected officials needs to be disclosed.Assess McHenry County?s efforts thus far in terms of groundwater preservation and protection. What needs to be done now and in the future?Ground water preservation and protection has taken a back seat to development. Limits should be set for development in relation to available water resources. Ground water needs to be better monitored when contaminants are introduced such as driveway sealants in the Lake-In-The-Hills area. Ground water is a precious resource that needs to be closely and scientifically monitored.Assess how the county health department approached the whooping cough outbreak. What should have been done differently?I think the county is doing a good job coordinating with the Il Department of Public health and the National Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. Educating the public should be a major focus.