County Board - District 6 Incumbent

Questions & Answers

What is the importance the County Board to your constituents?

Since I represent the urban aspects of the county, the followingcause county responsibilities are important to the urban citizens: open and transparent elections; open and transparent budgeting processes and information on the county web site; storm water management because water knows no boundaries; equitable criminal justice system; sheriff's department that teams with the other police departments; coroner by statute works to solve cause of deaths; property tax assessments that are equitable; accurate property records; independent auditor that oversees payment of bills; and a county treasure who by statute is there to protect the General Fund.

What is a key policy difference between you and your Primary Opponent[s]?

I have represented CC district 6 for a full 7 years. I am an urban planner who is able to offer this expertise to the decision making process. I have been the driver behind the establishment of the Preservation and Conservation Association of Champaign County; Champaign County Health Care Consumers; and the major public works project, John Street Watershed, to help solve flooding in that area. The first two have now existed in CC over 25 years. As county board member and chair, I got passed the resolution to establish the Local Food Policy Council, Racial Justice Task Force, voted to establish the Community Justice Task Force, and 7 years of balanced budgets. During this time period, I have taken the statutory fiduciary responsibility as to the use of taxpayer dollars seriously.

The Champaign County Public Nursing Home and the County Board have been featured in the news heavily this past year, how do you feel about this and is there anything voters need to know?

I was able with CB support to get the quarter cent facility sales tax increase referendum on the November 2016 ballot. If this had passed, today there would be an additional 5.2M in the General Fund. Forty percent of these monies would have been generated by people not living in the county. With the additional money, the county would have been able to help stabilize the CCNH.

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

Take the right to vote seriously and learn as much as you can about all of the candidates and ballot issues so you cast an educated vote in the primary and general elections.

I am always available for coffee and conversation to discuss county issues. pattsi2@gmail.com

The News-Gazette also has a questionnaire answered by all Democrat candidates running for County Board District 6.

You can find that questionnaire: Here.

A video forum featuring each District 6 candidate was hosted by the League of Women Voters, The News-Gazette, and NAACP.

You can watch the full candidate forum: here.