Kristin Cross: 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:BioQA Bio City: JolietWebsite: www.crossforrecorder.comTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Candidate did not respond.Age: 52Family: My mother and father live in Henderson Nevada. My brothers live in Joliet and Manhattan. My 25 year old daughter lives here in Joliet.Occupation: Real Estate BrokerEducation: Some CollegeCivic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: Board of Education Member Troy 30C (current)Troy Township Clerk (current)Troy Township Collector (former)Questions Answers How well has the Recorder of Deeds performed, and what qualifications would you bring to the office?I bring to the table 16 years of Real Estate related experience, 9 years of middle management in the Recorders Office and I carry an Illinois Real Estate Brokers License. I understand that the major economic engine of this County is Real Estate. I am the only one in this race that has the aforementioned experience. The current Recorder of Deeds who is running for a third 4 year term has managed to award 2 no bid contracts for recording/internet systems. Taxpayers are on the hook for these expensive systems. I will eliminate the practice of single source contracts.If you expect to ask for an increase in appropriations during the next four years, what areas would you want to put more money into?There would be NO reason to increase appropriations during the next four years. I will work within my budgetary means to bring the Recorder of Deeds Office back to a user friendly and customer oriented atmosphere thru competition in the marketplace for customized software that incorporates the ease of use for the taxpayer and the real estate professional alike and is fiscally responsible. The know how to increase productivity thru cross training staff to increase skill set and cohesiveness of processes in office. All of this above can be accomplished with less tax dollars appropriated for the Recorders Office.List any of your relatives (including those related to you by marriage, and nieces/nephews) who are on the public payroll in Illinois, their jobs and who they work for.NoneDescribe your position on transparency in the office and the ease of access to records by the public. If you believe improvements are needed, what are they and how would you go about achieving them?All documents that are recorded in the Recorder of Deeds office are public record. There are records that date back to 1836 when Will County was established that remain in paper or microfilm form. The current recorder has not undertaken any digitization in the 8 years as Recorder. These records stored in paper and microfilm form are in unstable condition and need to be digitized/stabilized. The current recorder has the equipment and staff power to digitize microfilm records at no additional cost to taxpayers. I as Recorder of Deeds, will make sure that these records are public and protected.Please list any elected office you've ever run for and what the result of that election was. Have you ever been appointed to fill an unexpired term?Elected to Troy 30C Board of Education MemberAppointed to Troy CollectorElected as Troy Township ClerkRe-elected to Troy 30C Board of EducationWhat other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Returning this office to the people of Will County thru experience, know how and plain hard work is first and foremost. To accomplish this there has to be competition for systems in open bid processes which is fiscally sound, a digitization plan to make sure all records are accessible/accurate in a very cost effective way and to make sure that streamlining processes are used to increase productivity. I will use my position as Recorder to eliminate fees that were increased 2 years ago to pay for a single source expensive recording system.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Carly Fiorina, she is a strong woman in business and politics. She is a Breast Cancer Survivor and so am I.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?That nothing in life is achieved without a lot of hard work.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would not have a do-over. Each experience good or bad gives us strength, teaches us and gives us character.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Speech class, this class helped me overcome the fear of public speaking and it has given me my voice.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?I have always told my grown daughter Ryann to have confidence and belief in her ability.