Pamela Moretti: 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: AddisonWebsite: http://www.addisontwpgop.comOffice sought: Addison Township Clerk (4-year Term)Age: 55Family: Married to Larry for 27 years, two children, Larry 26, Matthew 23, and Daughter-in-law Katie Palandri-Moretti 25Occupation: Addison Township ClerkEducation: High School Graduate, 2 years of college for Restaurant managementCivic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: Elected in 1997-1998 as Addison Township Trustee Appointed to Addison Township Clerk in 1998 Elected to Addison Township Clerk 2001-precentHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: Candidate did not respond.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 To continue providing excellent service of the Township Clerks office at no additional cost to taxpayersKey Issue 2 To continue the program I originally adopted to make registration and voting easier for our township citizensKey Issue 3 To continue to educate the public on services my office provide like Passports, voter registration, FOIA requests, and voter information.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.To reduce taxes or keep them in the current level. This is critical because people are hurting from the high taxes being imposed upon them by the State and Federal governments. This board has and will continue to address this issue. To broaden the education program on how this Township serves the people better than other forms of government To enhance the ethics and transparency standards previously established by the Township Board. This is critical because voters should know the character and values of the people who serve them. The current Board has, and will continue to address this issue.In the 21st Century, with municipalities gobbling up vacant land, why are townships needed? Should they be serving a new role? If so, what?Townships are the oldest form of government that is closest to the people. Township officials know people by their first name. Our office is local, not downtown Chicago or inb Wheaton Illinois. Because all of Township Officials live in the communities we serve we know best the needs of our citizens and can serve them better. The new role our Township should provide is to be given some programs the County, and State presently maintain because we can do them cheaper and better.What should be the primary responsibility of township government?It is and always has been General Assistance and Road Maintenance, but our Township does more with an expanded food pantry, a transportation program for senior citizens and disabled people, a clothes closet which provides clothings for people in need and for those going out for job interviews, a food donation program, passport assistance, holiday party for needy children, holiday food provision, senior citizen activity programs, and much more that county, state, and federal governments cannot provide without adding to the tax burden.In these hard economic times, can you identify some township expenses/programs that could be trimmed or eliminated to reduce the tax burden?We have already taken that step by having one of our Township Officials take a pay cut, and five of the Township officials not taking a raise for the previous four years and the next four years, and to keep taxes low, our Township has started a 501c3 program to accept donations to maintain some existing programs and start some additionsl programs. This is something County, State, and Federal governments don't doWhat specific background or experience do you bring that makes you the best qualified candidate to serve as an elected official in the township?I have 16 years of experience in Township Government. Go to all educational seminars to keep up will all new laws and upcoming Legislation that effect Townships, and their residents. I attend the Addison Intergovernmental meeting to also keep up with what is happening with all of the other taxing body's to see how we can assist each other.