Preston Rea: Candidate Profile

Posted December 31, 2015 10:00 pm

McHenry County Board District 6 (Republican)

<p class="disclaimer" style="font-size:16px;color:#666;"><strong>Note:</strong> 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.

Bio Q&A

<strong>City:</strong> Harvard

<strong>Website:</strong> Candidate did not respond.

<strong>Twitter:</strong> Candidate did not respond.

<strong>Facebook:</strong> Candidate did not respond.

<strong>Office sought:</strong>

McHenry County Board District 6

<strong>Age:</strong> 64

<strong>Family:</strong> I am happily married to my Wife Denise and have two Sons, Tom & Dan and Two Daughters Donna & Rachel. We are blessed with thirteen Grandchildren.

<strong>Occupation:</strong> Sanitarian

<strong>Education:</strong> B.S.-Environmental Health- Indiana State University

M.H.A.-Health Administration- Chicago Medical School

<strong>Civic involvement:</strong> McHenry County Conservation Dist. Board (past)

McHenry County Conservation Foundation Board (past)

McHenry County Public Health Technical review Committee (present)

Illinois State Sewage Disposal Commission (present)

McHenry County Board Chairman Public Aid Appeal Committee (present)

Nation Board Member of American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists(past)

Land Conservancy of McHenry County (present)

Deacon Board Member of Church (present)

<strong>Elected offices held:</strong> Alden Township Supervisor

Precinct Committeeman

<h3 class="breakHead">Questions & Answers</h3>

<h3 class="briefHead">Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election for the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you? If so, what?</h3>

I am a proven community leader and tax-fighter.

<h3 class="briefHead">If you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us of any important initiatives you've led. If you are a challenger, what would you bring to the board and what would your priority be?</h3>

My priority would be economic development and the required infrastructure to support it.Many of our citizens are under employed or have left the work force. We need to rebuild the middle class by attracting employers that pay decent wages.

I began my professional career as a county employee and served for ten years. Since that time I have owned and operated an environmental consulting firm and laboratory for thirty years. Having seen both the challenges of operating a small business and regulatory enforcement, I can bring a unique perspective to county government.

<h3 class="briefHead">Describe your position regarding the balance between county spending and revenues as it exists today, then describe the chief threats you see looming in the future and how the county should deal with them. In particular in the suburbs, President Preckwinkle has set a goal of eliminating unincorporated areas from county oversight. Do you agree with this approach? If so, how should the county go about it?</h3>

McHenry County needs to be pay attention to unnecessary taxation. The recent disclosure that the County nursing home is operating at break even but continues to collect taxes is obscene. Thirty million dollars has been taken out of the local economy by over taxation. Past and present County Board members should be held accountable for collecting unnecessary taxes.

A good economy will solve many social problems. County departments need to become a resource to assist business expansion rather than concentrating on enforcement.

The County Board needs to attract employers to reestablish a viable middle class.

<h3 class="briefHead">How do you rate the county government on transparency and the public's access to records? If you consider it adequate, please explain why. If you think improvements are needed, please describe them and why they are important.</h3>

McHenry County has done an outstanding job of creating transparent government. The County web site is an award winning tool to provide access to information.

<h3 class="briefHead">Please list any elected office you have ever run for and what the result of that election was. Have you ever been appointed to fill an unexpired term?</h3>

The first position I ran for was the Alden Township Board. I lost this election but was appointed to complete the unexpired term as the Alden Township Supervisor.

I have since been re-elected as the Alden Township Supervisor in two elections.

I have been elected to three terms as a precinct committeeman.

<h3 class="briefHead">What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?</h3>

I have experience in public health, health administration and budgeting of organizations up to seven million dollars.

Geographically district six comprises half of the county but only has four votes on the county board. Board members must be persuasive and able to build relationships with other board members. This is the only way the rural part of the county can have influence on county policy. I am a proven bridge builder and will foster an atmosphere of mutual cooperation.

<h3 class="briefHead">Please name one current leader who most inspires you.</h3>

State Representative Michael Tryon

<h3 class="briefHead">What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?</h3>

To be honest and your word is your bond. Hard work isn't going to kill you.

<h3 class="briefHead">If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?</h3>

I would have spent more time learning to play a musical instrument.

<h3 class="briefHead">What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?</h3>

Science classes. I learned about cause and effect. Everything we do affects something else.

<h3 class="briefHead">If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?</h3>

What ever you do in life, it should be honorable and you need to show up.

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