Craig Chinchilla: 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:Biostyle="display:block;border:0;">QA Bio City: GLEN ELLYNWebsite: www.votechinchilla.comTwitter: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Chinchilla4DuPage/Office sought: DuPage County board District 4 Age: 53Family: My wife, Dorothy, and I have been married for 26 years and have six wonderful children: Alexandra (24), Olyvia (21), Craig Jr. (19), Jonathan (17), Lydia (15), and Peter (11).Occupation: BUSINESS OWNEREducation: Northern Illinois University, B.S. in Biology and Chemistry (May, 1986)Civic involvement: Technical Election Judge 2009 to present.Elected offices held: NoneQuestions Answers 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?DuPage County is a great place to live, work, and raise a family#8212;but our way of life is threatened by economic pressures. Government can no longer go back to the taxpayer and ask for more and more money. It is not good enough to keep taxes level#8212;we must reduce the tax burden. As a business owner who helps businesses become more efficient, I would bring a unique set of skills to the board that is not normally found in people who only have government experience. If we are going to maintain and improve our quality of life here in DuPage, government needs to become more efficient in the way it operates. DuPage County also has to take a leadership role and work with other governmental units to find solutions.What is your stance on county board members' pay? Too high, too low, just right? Would you propose any changes?Its a too high and should be reduced. The salary and benefits are based on 1,000 hours a year and I can assure you that I fully intend on working that many hours or more.With DuPage County's budget being squeezed by the state funding reductions, what initiatives would you support to increase revenue and/or save money?DuPage County's sales tax revenue is in decline in part because of the way the State of Illinois distributes collected sales tax. More and more purchases are being performed online, and although DuPage residents are still paying sales taxes for these purchases, the full amount of taxes collected is not being returned to the County. The County needs to work with the State to ensure that we do not lose sales tax revenue.There are several opportunities to modernize and streamline our operations by improving and eliminating antiquated systems. We have to evaluate our current way in which the County performs services, and upgrade with newer technology when it makes sense. Our goal should be to improve services, make employees more efficient, and offset costs with technology when appropriate. What are your thoughts about the county's Accountability, Consolidation and Transparency Initiative? What role should DuPage play in efforts to streamline and consolidate local government?The ACT initiative is a framework of how good government should work. DuPage County needs to take a leadership role in cutting costs where it is possible#8212;and demonstrate that we can do more with less. We then must encourage local governments to work together to find opportunities to reduce costs, eliminate duplication, and continue to drive efficiencies. As an example, the County has repeatedly worked with Township Government in cost saving initiatives, such as purchasing road salt to obtain better pricing. We must hold all of our public officials accountable, we must reduce the size and scope of government, and we need to have complete transparency.What initiatives, if any, do you have in mind for your specific county board district?District 4 is very developed and is mostly residential. Projects such as road upgrades and business developments can have a huge adverse impact on local communities. Just because something can be built, it does not always make sense to do it. We need to find a way to get local communities more involved in the process and give them more say in the decision process verses the broader County.We need to help seniors be able to stay in their homes. Many seniors find it difficult to afford their basic necessities, let alone pay their property tax bill. They should not be forced to move away from their families and friends. I plan to work with the other board members to look for solutions to this difficult problem.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Water quality and environmental issues are important to me, and most people in the community. Having a background in science and technology and a business that works with environmental laboratories, I see the positive and negative impact that water quality has on the environment and ultimately our way of life. We need to continue to improve water quality in the county; as well as, air and waste management. We need to be good stewards of the environment, but take a realistic approach to how it is performed.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Kay Frost, Glen Ellyn Senior or the Year, because she has devoted herself to the betterment of the community.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Hard work pays off.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would have gone to Harvard, when the opportunity presented itself.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Science. It provided me a great opportunity to help people, businesses, and the environment.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Always do what is right.