County Board Candidate - District 5

Questions & Answers

What is the importance of the County Board to your constituents in Champaign County?

The County Board handles functions that the towns in Champaign County do not. The county board is responsible for the Champaign County Court system, the jails, the county roads, the county nursing home until sold and social programs to help keep people out of jail and keep people released from jail from returning to jail.

What is a key policy difference between you and your Opponent?

I don’t know a lot about my opponent. I have been to every board meeting since I decided to run in January. I have also been to every caucus. I did meet my my opponent the night they voted on selling the nursing home. She was opposed to selling and wanted the taxpayers to continue to fund it at 150,000 per month.

The County Board is responsible for a yearly budget of nearly $130 million. How would prioritize this money, and are there any parts of the current budget you would change?

The 1st thing that some people do not understand is that there are certain functions the county board is mandated to do. So that is the first priority. The next priority would be to fix the problem with the jails. One is not ADA compliant and the other does not have space to separate gangs or mentally ill inmates. Next would be to update the computer system.

Is there anything else you would like to say to an undecided voter in Champaign County?

I think we already pay enough in taxes and I would try my hardest not to ever raise taxes.