Siobhan White: 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: Arlington Hts.Website: http://Dems4LowerTaxes.comOffice sought: Wheeling Township Board (4-year Terms)Age: Candidate did not respond.Family: Married for 28 years to Kevin White Three children Aidan 26, Cecilia, 24, Rosemary 23 None currently living at home.Occupation: Director of Programming, Hospice and Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois (retired)Education: JD John Marshall Law School BS Sociology University of Illinois, Champaign-UrbanaCivic involvement: Current Chair of the Arlington Heights Housing Commission Member of the Affordable Housing Task Force Board Member, Faith Community Homes Past volunteer, JourneysElected 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 Reduce property taxes.Key Issue 2 Ensure efficient delivery of services while cutting unnecessary spending.Key Issue 3 Improving the transparency and openness of township government.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.#1 -- Reduce property taxes by eliminating unnecessary spending and drawing down the excessive reserve funds which the incumbents have accumulated. The incumbents have been overtaxing residents for years. Once elected, my colleagues and I will work in tandem with financial experts to develop the most responsible and efficient method of drawing down these reserves with the goal of cutting property taxes. #2 -- Ensure efficient delivery of services to Wheeling Township taxpayers and residents by reducing and eliminating unnecessary spending. - Top to bottom review of elected officials' salaries and benefits to ensure they are commensurate with work performed. And savings should be going toward services, not administration. - Running cost/benefit analyses on Township projects and activities following the Budgeting for Results model of eliminating things that are useless or just don't work. - Working with other local agencies and governments to share resources through beneficial intergovernmental agreement. #3 -- Improving the transparency and openness of township government to make Wheeling Township more responsive and accountable to the taxpayers. Actively advocating on behalf of taxpayers and residents by creating a Township Economic Council, consistently advising residents of difficult-to-navigate tax exemptions, and more. Expanding online services through use of new Internet capabilities, alerts and apps. Changing the Township's office hours to make them more convenient for residents. Right now the Township is only open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m, Monday through Friday. Shifting the hours so the Township is also open on a weeknight or a weekend morning will help countless residents who work or who are out looking for work during the day.In the 21st Century, with municipalities gobbling up vacant land, why are townships needed? Should they be serving a new role? If so, what?While many areas could consolidated (highway department) I believe the Social Service role is not provided adequately by other entities and therefore should not be abolished at this time.What should be the primary responsibility of township government?The most efficient delivery of needed services to maintain and protect the social safety net on a local level, such as: - Taxpayer advocates for local property owners - Food pantry for those who need a bridge - Senior services such as transportation, tax assistance, drivers skills and more - Clearinghouse and links to other programs and services for veterans, the disabled, those in need, local businesses and job-seekersIn these hard economic times, can you identify some township expenses/programs that could be trimmed or eliminated to reduce the tax burden?Responsible elimination of the Township Highway Commission and elected Highway Commissioner position. At only 5.5 miles of road Wheeling Township has one of the highest expenses per mile. This might not create immediate savings but it will eliminate a layer of government and consolidate some Township functions.- Evaluate elected officials' salaries based on duties and ensure they are in line with hours worked. Reduce elected officials' salaries where necessary.- Investigate and rectify incumbent board activities and #8220;accidental#8221; oversights. Use #8220;Budgeting for Results#8221; ractices to focus on maximizing programs that work.On the flip side, Wheeling Township should also be brought into the modern age to focus more completely on a role as taxpayer and resident advocate: working to bring economic development and jobs to the area, helping residents fight rising property taxes, and more as described in the above responses.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 have a legal background especially in the area of social service funding and delivery. My experience with charities such as Journeys and Faith Community Homes plus my work as Chair of the Village of Arlington Heights Housing Commission has prepared me very well for the unique mix of responsibilities, oversight and insight required of a modern Township trustee. I will bring an open mind but will also challenge staff and others as needed in order to eliminate unneeded spending so that Township services can be maximized and do the most good for the most people.