Andrew Snarski: Candidate Profile

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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:BioQA Bio City: Crystal LakeWebsite: Under constructionTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: McHenry County Board District 5 Age: 56Family: I'm married with two children. My wife, Cindy, is a 5th generation resident of McHenry County. Our daughter, Nicole, lives with her husband in Washington, D.C. Our son, Alex, is a sophomore studying mechanical engineering and a member of the swim team at Northwestern University.Occupation: Newly retired after nearly 30 years working at The Mosaic Company.Education: B.S. in Accounting from Northern Illinois UniversityCivic involvement: I served USA Swimming for nearly a decade as a deck official. Currently, I provide transportation and assistance with home improvement projects for seniors. Separate from this, I am also a volunteer tax preparer for seniors. I am a board member of Four Colonies Townhouse Association, serving in the role of secretary/treasurer.Elected offices held: I have never held office, I'm a concerned citizen that wants to bring McHenry County government more in touch with us...the taxpayer.Questions Answers 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?The many taxing bodies in McHenry County have lost touch with the taxpayers. Comments such as, We are only asking for a small increase." are a clear indication that our elected officials don't believe they are responsible for our property tax burden. Yet, these small increases sum up to excessive property tax bills, which are forcing residents to leave. For proof, one only has to look at the negative population growth in McHenry County. My corporate management experience and commitment to serving our community will help me ensure our county government is in touch with the people in McHenry County.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?As a challenger, I bring an extensive corporate management background that will be invaluable in providing oversight to a county government that controls a budget over $230M and has 1,000 employees. During my nearly 30 years of corporate experience, I worked as a planner and a leader. I optimized processes, reduced costs, and delivered business results. I will be a county board member who understands the issues, offers innovative solutions, and demands that government do more with less. This is being done in the private sector and must be done in the public sector.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?The McHenry County proposed budget for 2016 saves taxpayers $10M. While this may appear as a significant savings, the property tax component of this budget remains fixed at ~$78.8M. In ten years, the property tax portion of this budget has increased 57%. As a board member, I will find meaningful, substantive changes so the cost of county government is significantly reduced. Threats to McHenry County's economy are high taxes, an aging workforce, and declines in quality jobs and workers. McHenry County government can strengthen our economy by employing a clear strategy to attract business and a qualified workforce.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.With regard to county board meetings, they are open to the public. Agendas are available online in advance and records are easy to locate and access. Board meetings are recorded and audio is immediately available. Adding a video stream to go with the audio would be a significant improvement.For those with Internet access, the county website contains very helpful information about services, departments and upcoming events; however, there is always room for improvement. As a board member, I will be vigilant regarding keeping the public informed and information available.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?I have not run for political office, nor have I been appointed to fill an unexpired term.As a resident of McHenry County, I will use my business experience, energy and passion to protect the taxpayers and the quality of life we enjoy here. I will work hard to ensure those who want to live here can afford to do so. While I am a lifelong Republican, I am not a career politician and will not use this opportunity to become one. I bring a refreshing and sincere viewpoint to county government that focuses on the wellbeing of our community.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I live in McHenry County because of the quality of life offered here, including clean air and water, open spaces, low crime and an exceptional education system. I'm concerned that this quality of life is eroding quickly as government takes more from our taxpayers than they can afford to pay. It is important that we make wise decisions to address issues concerning county population and economic growth, reduce the size and cost of government, and provide the services our residents need the most. We can't afford to see another 57% increase in property taxes over the next ten years!Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Theodore Roosevelt. He fought the robber barrens to preserve and protect our nation's land for future generations. It was politically incorrect, morally it was right.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Work hard, do more than asked, own up to your mistakes, treat people kindly and, most importantly, give back to your community.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Farming as a career. Whether growing food or flowers, it's rewarding to watch things grow from seed and knowing you were a part of it.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?I enjoyed accounting. It is logical and things balance. With commitment, I knew I could always find the right answer.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?I have given my children advice throughout their lives. They are both doing well, and I couldn't be prouder of them!