Carl Schultz: Candidate Profile

Back to DuPage County Forest Preserve District 5

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: AuroraWebsite: VoteSchultz.comTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: DuPage County Forest Preserve District 5 Age: 58Family: Wife- CarynDaughter- MaryDaughter- AllieOccupation: HorticulturistEducation: University of Illinois 1979 Bachelor of Science, Ornamental HorticultureCivic involvement: Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce - Ambassador Rotary Club of NapervilleServed on Committee to Develop Naperville's Landscape Ordinance Naper Settlement Tree Census ConsultantElected offices held: Forest Preserve CommissionerPrecinct CommitteemanQuestions Answers What role should the forest preserve play in preserving historic buildings on its land?The district should first establish the usefulness of an historic building. If there is a defined purpose for the building, then the district should take the lead in preservation of the structure. If the district does not determine a defined purpose for the building, but significant community interest exists in preserving the structure, the district should explore a collaborative working relationship with the community. If an agreement can be reached with the community to restore the structure, the community should take the lead in providing both a purpose and funding for the preservation of the structure.circ;#160;In the past, the forest preserve has been approached by several agencies looking to use its land for other purposes. Describe your position on such requests and if it is ever appropriate to develop forest preserve land for non-forest preserve activities.The District should always follow its mission. If a request is made, two guiding questions should be asked: 1. How does the requested use benefit the public? andcirc;#160; 2. What is the potential for negative impact to the district? In cases of great public benefit and low negative impact, the district should consider the request. For example: A request to place a fiber optic cable along a planned trail should be granted, especially when costs would be shared. A request to place a billboard on district property should be denied because it does not meet the guidelines.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?Based on my previous efforts, I am now endorsed by President Cantore and five district commissioners.circ;#160; As a result, I have the ability to work collaboratively for the benefit of District 5.circ;#160; For example, I negotiated the easement and completed the construction of the trail between Jefferson Ave and Ogden Ave, stabilized the Greene Farm Barn, established the 79th Street trail and created the district's 501c3 foundation. The value of a commissioner who can work collaboratively with fellow board members cannot be overstated. Re-establishing a functional, collaborative board benefits the public and will be my first priority when elected.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.In my previous terms, I helped establish the district website's Transparency Portal. I support the district's current position of providing access to records and operations. I support establishing an archive of documents prior to 2008. I support the district in becoming proactively transparent; the district should be run in such a way that there is little need for FOIA. Commissioners should be available to the public. I will continue to commit myself to being proactively available to the public in every instance.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?Forest Preserve Commissioner elected from 2002-2012.Republican Precinct Committeeman elected from 2002-present.I have not been appointed to fill an unexpired term.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?The need for a collaborative board cannot be overstated. The public is cheated when an elected official cannot or will not behave in a civil manner toward other board members. The result for District 5 residents of this inability to work with others is less acres of open space and millions of dollars committed to those residents being spent elsewhere. This cannot be allowed to continue.circ;#160; I am endorsed by the other members of the commission and I have a proven history of building consensus to get things done.circ;#160;I will also continue to develop alternative revenue sources.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Mitch Daniels for his innovative solutions and ability to get things done. As President of Purdue University he has frozen tuition and reduced overall costs.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?The way to get to the right place in the future is by doing the right thing today.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would continue to appreciate being a native of Naperville, but would become a public servant at a younger age.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Natural sciences. This subject set the course for my lifetime commitment of connecting people with nature and, ultimately for serving as Forest Preserve Commissioner.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?No one can know your heart. Your heart can only be known by your actions. Therefore, always strive do the right thing.