Jessica Kopka: Candidate Profile

Back to Oakbrook Terrace City Council Ward 2

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: Oakbrook TerraceWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Oakbrook Terrace City Council Ward 2 Age: 31Family: I grew up in DuPage county. I moved here in fourth grade and attended Hinsdale Central High School. Just married May 27, 2016. One husband and 2 French Bulldogs.Occupation: Dental HygienestEducation: Associates Degree in Dental HygieneCivic involvement: VolunteerCommunity activistElected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?My commitment to my village and community. It seems that Oakbrook Terrace isn't really listening to it's residents or allowing them to imput their voice on many issues.What is your opinion of your community's present level of local sales and property taxes? Is the tax just right, too low or too high? Explain.Tax base is satisfactory, but I am very concerned with the installion of a red light camera. It will greatly reduce sales base revenue. This same instance has occurred Schaumburg at Woodfield Mall where they quickly decided to remove the relight cameras because it had adversely affected the businesses/sales revenue. If sales tax goes down, then property tax will go up. This is why I'm opposed to the red light camera.Rate the efficiency of your town's police and fire coverage. Are the departments well prepared for the next decade? What, if anything, should be changed? Do you have specific public safety concerns?The service from our police and fire is satisfactory, however it can be run more efficiently.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?I feel that we should reinstate the veterans lunches, community building activites and other community out reach events such as senior lunches. The village budget does have areas that can be reviewed and perhaps consolidated.What is one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?We should be working more with neighboring communities and sharing resources. Inter government agreements help to save money and provide more resources and services to the residents.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I am opposed to the red light camera that was installed at 22nd Street and Route 83. Being a resident, I was never informed or questioned about the city's decision to install this. However, they did send out a two page questionnaire about the streets lights... yet they never seeked the imput of any residents for the installation of the red light camera.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Tami Wanless, one of my most inspiring teachers at the College of DuPage Dental Hygiene Program.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Respect. It is important to respect the views and concerns of other individuals.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?When I moved to OBT, I wish that I had more involved and learned more about the city's history and pertinent issues then.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Art. I enjoyed art which helped me to expand my horizons, see multiple viewpoints which made me a more open minded person.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?You are responsible for everything good or bad that happens in your life.