Louis Addante: 2022 candidate for DuPage Forest Preserve Board District 6

Bio

Party: Republican

Office sought: DuPage Forest Preserve Board District 6

City: Wheaton

Age: 52

Occupation: DuPage County Forest Preserve Police officer

Previous offices held: Precinct committeeman

Q&A

Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election for the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you? If so, what?

I have been a DuPage County Forest Preserve Police officer for the past 27.5 years, and I want to continue serving the public after I retire later this year. I am dedicated to protecting everyone and everything in the preserves - from the smallest critters who call the preserves home to the people who visit the preserves.

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?

As a DuPage County Forest Preserve Police officer, I have hiked hundreds, if not thousands, of miles in the forest preserves throughout the county. I have talked with numerous people who comment on what they like about the preserves and improvements they would like to see. These conversations have allowed me to find out what my constituents value, and I am committed to serving as their representative on the board. One of my biggest priorities is public safety, which also includes ensuring the facilities and trails are well-maintained and accessible to all.

What are the county's open space needs and how should this board address them?

The county should protect as much open space as possible, balancing the need for recreation with preserving the flora and fauna. The forest preserve board should oppose any effort to develop land that is owned or leased by the forest preserve district. I believe it is vital to protect the preserves so they can be enjoyed now and for years to come.

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.

We must stay within our budget and give residents the most bang for their buck without raising taxes. The chief threats facing the forest preserve district are the downturn in the economy and inflation, which are increasing operating costs. Like families are doing, the forest preserve district must continually analyze its revenues and expenses and prioritize its needs.

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.

The forest preserve is transparent and responds to requests for records in a timely manner. It has a transparency portal on the website, which is user-friendly.

Describe your position regarding the state of the forest preserve district's budget, describe the chief threats you see looming in the future and how the district should handle them.

The forest preserve district has a balanced budget but will need to prioritize spending as expenses increase due to inflation.

Name one concrete program you'll create or personnel move you'll make to improve efficiency in the office or make it more successful. Explain how it will be funded and how you will overcome any obstacles to initiating it.

I would like to convert a small pond at Blackwell into a kids-only fishing lake with catch and release. It would be a place where families can create memories and enjoy the outdoors. The annual Kids Fishing Derby is always well-attended, so I'm confident a kids' fishing area that could be used year-round would be a popular addition to Blackwell. The cost of the project would be minimal since we already own the land and have staff with the know-how to execute it.