Marty Keller: 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: WheatonWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Milton Township Board (4-year Terms)Age: 64Family: Married for 38 years, two children, one grandson and another due in May.Occupation: General Manager of BAM Fan Accessories in Elk Grove Village.Education: Masters Degree in Management and Organizational Development from Benedictine University. Bachelors Degree in Political Science from Northern Illinois University.Civic involvement: Member of Toastmasters International, Committeeman in Milton Precinct 84, Member of Milton C.E.R.T.(Community Emergency Response Team.), Member of "Two Gallon" Club for blood donors.Elected offices held: Appointed in May of 2012 as Milton Township Trustee to fill a vacancy on the Board.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Incorporating the best practices and policies of the private sector into Township government. Why shouldn't government have the same "customer first" focus of private companies? While Milton already does this quite well, we can always improve.Key Issue 2 Educating the public about the services of Township government. Most citizens don't know how much we do to help those in need.Key Issue 3 Evaluating our current staff, programs and services from the viewpoint of the average taxpayer and homeowner.Questions Answers Name the three most important goals or objectives this board should tackle in the coming term. Prioritize them, and briefly discuss why you believe each to be critical, and how the board should go about addressing them.Insure the services of Township government are available as needed to the public at affordable levels. Better inform the public of what we do and optional services we can provide. Seek cooperative agreements with other government agencies to expand services while containing costs.In the 21st Century, with municipalities gobbling up vacant land, why are townships needed? Should they be serving a new role? If so, what?Property assessment is best done locally, both for the workers doing the assessments and the property owner who needs to discuss the values. The same is true for the folks who need help through the General Assistance program and our food pantry. To be effective, we have to be local. The roads in unincorporated areas are best served by trucks and personnel who start and finish every day near by. Can you imagine waiting for your road to be plowed if the truck had to come from 15 or 20 miles away? Township government provides the services that are beyond the scope of each city or village and too immediate or personal in nature for the County or State.What should be the primary responsibility of township government?To provide the state mandated services of property assessment, highways in unincorporated areas and general assistance in the most efficient and effective way possible. Did you know that we also maintain three cemeteries and are still responsible today for the burial of the indigent of the township?In these hard economic times, can you identify some township expenses/programs that could be trimmed or eliminated to reduce the tax burden?The property tax levees for Township government are so small that even their complete elimination would only reduce the average bill by around $4 a month. Let's look at it from the other side and find ways to help people cope during hard times. Another thought is to find those services which Township can provide at a lower cost than the city or county and shift that work to the Township.What specific background or experience do you bring that makes you the best qualified candidate to serve as an elected official in the township?I developed the solid people skills which were essential for a successful career in Sales and Management. One needs to be able to work well with individuals of various backgrounds as well as develop teams and provide effective leadership. I have learned to do this and would like to share my 30 plus years of experience in these areas with our Township offices.