Leigh Tracy: 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: BataviaWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Batavia Township Board (4-year Terms)Age: 72Family: Three children, two grandchildrenOccupation: Retired. Formerly employed in education, sales, and customer service positions.Education: BA, Grinnell College MA, University of MinnesotaCivic involvement: Congregational Church of Batavia Batavia Arts Council Batavia Township Batavia Township Republican OrganizationElected offices held: Batavia Township Trustee (current) Republican Precinct Committeemen (current) City of Batavia Alderman (former)Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Maintain transparency and encourage effective communication with township residents.Key Issue 2 Encourage fiscal responsibility and responsible use of township resources.Key Issue 3 Continue to examine the strengths and weaknesses of township government in Illinois. Defend the strengths of township government in public discussion. Work to correct any weeknesses.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.Provide township services at reasonable cost to the taxpayer. Communicate effectively with township residents. Use township resources to provide services to residents not provided by other public or private agencies.In the 21st Century, with municipalities gobbling up vacant land, why are townships needed? Should they be serving a new role? If so, what?Township services vary greatly throughout the state of Illinois. Even those townships in areas served by strong municipal governments provide services required by state statute which are unlikely to be delivered by the county, cities, or villages. The role of townships may have diminished, but there is, in fact, very little duplication of services.What should be the primary responsibility of township government?Assessment of property for tax purposes. Maintenance of township roads. Management of general assistance. Supporting necessary social services.In these hard economic times, can you identify some township expenses/programs that could be trimmed or eliminated to reduce the tax burden?Township programs account for a very small portion of the total tax burden. Property owners in Batavia Township pay about two percent of their total tax bill to provide these services. The township has done what it can to control expenses, and should continue to do so. However, if taxpayers are concerned about reducing the tax burden, they should look first to other units of local government.What specific background or experience do you bring that makes you the best qualified candidate to serve as an elected official in the township?Knowledge of the community. Active resident of the community for over 40 years. Background teaching and doing research in political science and history.