Sheila Rutledge: 2022 candidate for DuPage County Board District 6

Bio

Party: Democratic

Office sought: DuPage County Board District 6

City: West Chicago

Age: 66

Occupation: Owner of photography business for 33 years. I also invest in real estate.

Previous offices held: Winfield Township Precinct Committeeman Precinct 2, 2016-18; Precinct 37, 2018 to present.

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: Currently, because of an increase in sales tax revenue due to the Wayfair ruling, our reserves are robust. For too long employee pay has lagged and merit raises were discontinued.

A pay study I requested found we were not keeping up with surrounding counties and losing good people, leaving some departments chronically understaffed.

Ironically, the shortest departments are those that help our most vulnerable citizens. I believe we are getting to the right place on pay, helping employees cope with inflation.

The pay study resulted in a 5% pay raise for most employees and helped to settle a 3-year union contract dispute at the Care Center and county jail.

With the help of CARES Act and ARPA, we are making long overdue upgrades. Website and department software were becoming obsolete and unmaintainable.

Technology changes quickly, and the spending we are doing now to update both systems and buildings like our Care Center will serve DuPage residents well for many years to come.

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: I would like to see an outdoor entertainment venue like RiverEdge Park in Aurora, or even a Ravinia-style venue. Music and entertainment were sorely missed by our residents during the worst of the pandemic and that continues for the foreseeable future for those most at risk, who still minimize indoor exposure to others.

Even without a large entertainment stage, DuPage is already a destination for many cultural draws. Just imagine the showcase DuPage would provide to residents and visitors if we had one!

It would mean so much to artists and service industries from an economic impact standpoint too, which would, of course also increase our tax revenues to help fund it. I was vice chair of the committee that brought the Community Arts Festival to our fairground, and that effort also generated architectural drawings of the impressive evolution that facility could experience to better serve our county and its residents. It would be a draw from both our near neighbors and nearby states!

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

A: No. I would prefer a moment of silence. Those who wish could use that time to say a silent prayer of the faith of their choice or no faith at all. Thirty percent of our county identifies as "nonreligious." I've never understood prayer at the beginning of government business meetings in a country that has emphasized separation of church and state as a pillar of its democracy from day one.

Predominantly Christian invocations cause discomfort and feelings of dismissal both for nonreligious and those of the many other faiths our citizens live by. A country with freedom of religion as another of its pillars should not be implicitly endorsing just any.

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: Our board is a diverse group, with variety in experience, careers, gender, family life, religion, and more. Different viewpoints and ideas on best practices give us a rich pool to mine for the best outcomes. I have always nurtured relationships with ALL my fellow board members.

I see that as the best way to get things done for our citizens. I have working relationships both with others in my caucus and Republicans, and have cooperated with both to advance the quality of life for all in 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 has been evolving for many years, growing more diverse, and yet many of the newer residents have felt alienated by a government slow to recognize them and the adjustments to policy that both they and changing world around us require. I feel the Democratic Party has demonstrated a higher level of attention to those problems and is better suited to address them, in general. I personally chair the environmental committee.

With the threats of climate change that no one in our party denies, I believe it is imperative to continue my work there. With the help of a private donor, I received board approval to install a large array of solar panels on our 421 Building, a first step in showing that our county can be a leader in sustainable energy.

We are acting too slowly on making decisions that are the right thing for our environment rather than what is most cost effective. The time is now to deal with climate challenges at the local level if our federal government will not.

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

A: Several townships have referendums suggesting creation of mental health boards in their communities, funded with a small addition to township taxes.

In most cases, an increase of less than $50 per year would provide a local resource 24/7/365 with a caring person always available at an emergency phone number.

While our health department does a great job, I think a more local approach will improve response times and outcomes for those struggling with these issues.

The pandemic and its inherent isolation problems has increased both the number who suffer, and the varieties of ills they struggle with. These challenges won't go away anytime soon, and long COVID remains a threat whose lasting effects could significantly increase the need for these services.

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

A: Affordable housing. Our zoning laws should be updated to allow for more creative options for housing. Accessory dwelling units (ADU's), tiny houses and modular homes should be considered and we should make it easier for those ideas to get through the permit process. We have not had a comprehensive look at our building and zoning laws since 1987!

As a real estate investor myself, I see and read about ideas that are working in other parts of the country and could benefit us here in DuPage County as well.