Lucas Strom: 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: Maple ParkWebsite: www.strom4kanecounty.comTwitter: @lucasstromFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lucas-Strom-Kane-County-Board-1941326675908124/Office sought: Kane County board District 15 Age: 40Family: Wife - Melissa Strom Daughter - Hadley Strom Son - Sawyer StromOccupation: Vice President at Farmers Business Network and Owner/Operator of Strom Farms LLCEducation: Burlington Central High School Northern Illinois University, B.A. (Operations Management Information Systems) Northern Illinois University, M.S. (Information Systems)Civic involvement: Current: President of Kane County Pheasants Forever Previously: Junior Board member at Accretive Health focused on fundraising and supporting our partner charity. Additionally: Various campaign donations and supportive of causes such as single payor healthcare and conservation.Elected offices held: NoneQuestions Answers The county commissioned a study to determine which services are mandated and which are not in preparation for a deeper budget cut. Do you believe the county must continue to reduce costs? If so, which non-mandated services would you cut or reduce? Under what circumstances would you support a tax increase?The county must continue managing costs. Managing costs needs to be balanced with providing efficient and effective services that our residents need and expect. There are some areas that cuts might make sense or departments that can be combined. The study recommended a total of around $2M in cuts. The recommendations look reasonable but a detailed review and discussion is needed as the report just came out.The mandated services study said the law will require a reduction in the number of board seats as the county's population grows. Reducing the number of seats might also save money. What is the right number of board seats? How soon should the reduction occur?I support moving to 18 board seats. The law will require a maximum of 18 board seats and that is where Dupage county is already at. I think a 25% reduction is aggressive enough. Philosophically, I support incremental progress, and not pendulum swinging types of disruptive change. Redistricting should happen based of the upcoming 2020 census so probably starting in 2022.Do you support adding a sunset clause to any toll created to fund the Longmeadow Parkway?Yes, given the clause is specifically tied to the retirement of the bridge debt.Was ending the county's GPS and electronic monitoring program the right decision? If not, how would you restore the program?No, I don't think so. The program is intended to help with the cost of jail time while keeping the community safe. I have seen some analysis that the cost of the program actually saved the county four times the money. If that is the case, that is short term budgeting without looking at the big picture. To restore it, I'd work with the board and the Sheriff's office to find funding or other areas of savings.Do you support keeping the Aurora Election Commission?I support putting the issue on the ballot for voters to vote on. I've seen arguments as to the fact that it would save money while how much is debated. It's something that the county can handle internally if the voters decide so.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?My great grandfather bought the original family farm that we still live on today over a hundred years ago. I care out the preservation of our county's lifestyles. We have a nice mix of country, suburb, and city in the county and I want the development growth to be smart and strategic. Additionally, I am a big supporter of some of initiatives to build a local food hub and conservation of our open lands. Lastly, we need to bring more business into our county within the commercial corridors to help with how we tax existing commercial and residential properties.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Jeff Bezos CEO of Amazon. One of the most successful businessmen ever while being a good family man and philanthropist. He positively impacts the world.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Be humble and work hard. In good times and bad there have to be some constants.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I don't really think I want a do-over. I have really enjoyed my life. I wouldn't trade it for anything.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Business Strategy and Decision Support Systems - These two subjects have built a foundation that I use throughout my career.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Balance passion and logic. Balance there makes for a happy and productive life.