Daniel J. Kordik: 2022 candidate for DuPage County Board District 2

Bio

Party: Republican

Office sought: DuPage County Board District 2

City: Oak Brook

Age: 63

Occupation: Lawyer/small business owner, Kordik Law Firm

Previous offices held: Villa Park Elementary District 45 board member (1988-1995), York Township Clerk (2005-2021), Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1994. Served term as chairman of the York Township Republicans

Q&A

Q: 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.

A: Like any individual, the county should not spend money that it does not have. Ironically today, DuPage County is projected to have a $40 million budget surplus by the end of this fiscal year.

Chief threats looming would be blowing through that surplus and spending it all now. Four years ago, COVID-19 did not exist and no one could have expected such a global epidemic which no one budgeted for.

Nobody knew 4 years ago that we would endure a global epidemic which placed a tremendous burden on individuals and all levels of government. I do not know what the next threat will be. I would therefore save much of the surplus for the future to be ready to take on whatever health, environmental or economic crisis or emergency comes next.

Q: Is there a specific service or amenity that is lacking in the county? If so, how do you propose to provide and fund it?

A: We are fortunate in DuPage County to have many services and amenities that other counties can only wish they had, such as DuPage County having its own crime lab to process forensic material to solve crimes with science which was integral in identifying the two suspects at the Dec. 23 Oak Brook mall shooting.

I welcome input and suggestions from the public and county personnel as to new services or amenities desired. I would like to see DuPage County have its own television station, so that instead of turning on channel 2, 5, 7, or 9 for the morning or 10 o'clock news with the lead stories focused on Chicago, the focus would be on DuPage County. Champaign and Decatur are smaller than DuPage County and have their own TV stations. In any case, any TV station would be funded privately if the demand is there, not with taxpayer funds.

Q: Should the county board continue to start its regular board meetings with an invocation? Please say why or why not.

A: Yes. During my tenure as township clerk, York Township always opened its annual town meeting with an invocation and closed with a benediction.

In 1983, the U.S. Supreme Court held in Marsh v. Chambers that "to invoke Divine guidance on a public body entrusted with making laws" is not unconstitutional.

In 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court in Greece v. Galloway further rejected the argument that prayer before government meetings must be nonsectarian and nondenominational and acknowledged that prayer at local council meetings do not force citizens to participate in a religious ritual, but "lend gravity to public proceedings and acknowledge the place religion holds in the lives of many private citizens."

The court also noted that prayer before public meetings are not intended for the audience, but are for the benefit of the lawmakers themselves. If I am elected to the county board, I would welcome such a benefit before I discuss, deliberate and vote on issues before the board.

Q: Does there need to be more bipartisanship and cooperation on the county board? If yes, what would you do to help make that happen?

A: Yes. Ashley Selmon wrote in her 5/6/22 blog that she personally experienced harassment and bullying from county board members of her own Democratic Party, who she described as benefiting from their power, causing her to not to seek reelection to her seat. I served on nonpartisan boards such as the school board where we made decisions for the betterment of our children and community.

After I completed my term as a planning and zoning commissioner, the village president, a Democrat who also ran for Congress, asked me to stay on after my term, for my knowledge and leadership, knowing that I would continue to conduct myself and vote for what was best for Villa Park without regard to party affiliation.

I am an arbitrator for the 18th Judicial Circuit where I listen to all parties before rendering a decision. I will use my experience on nonpartisan boards and as a neutral arbitrator to make decisions not based on any political agendas, but on what is best for DuPage County.

Q: If your political party has control of the county board after the November election, how would that benefit DuPage residents?

A: DuPage County residents will be safer with Republicans, who are more focused on safety and crime deterrence, in control of the county board. The Democratic Board Chair candidate sponsored and voted for HB 3653, purposely misnamed the SAFE-T Act, which eliminates cash bail in many cases and reduces possession of 3 grams of heroine and fentanyl from a felony to a misdemeanor, despite a fentanyl epidemic explosion.

DuPage County has a long history of Republican led governance which made DuPage County a desirable place to live, work and raise a family. If the Democrats have control of the county board, DuPage County will become more like Cook County. Residents would benefit from DuPage being DuPage.

Q: The COVID pandemic put a spotlight on the need for mental health services. What role should the county play in this?

A: The county should play a major role in delivering mental health services. Although some townships are creating their own mental health boards thereby creating another governmental entity and another taxing body, I believe that the county not townships should provide for such services. The primary provider of such services, however, should be private health care providers.

Q: What is the single most important issue facing your district and how should the county address it?

A: The most important issue facing the citizens is inflation and the economy. While inflation has hit the pocket book of our citizens, it has ironically, but not surprisingly, resulted in a surplus in the county budget.

The county should save surplus funds for the future, being good stewards of our residents' hard earned tax dollars to keep DuPage County fiscally sound for the years to come.