County Board Candidate - District 10

Questions & Answers

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

A county board member serves the interest of the whole county and the district from which they were elected. The board is a fundamental unit of government often it is closest to and most affects the residents of the county. The board is currently engaged in reducing racial disparity in criminal justice, incarceration, mental health and substance abuse.

As information becomes known stands on issues should evolve with the circumstances. The board members should engage in the solving problems facing the county beginning with the most difficult. Resolution of problems should be by consensus to insure the fullest support of the board.

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

I am not yet familiar with Ms. King-Taylor’s positions in detail but know that we both agree on preserving the county nursing home, criminal justice reform, including reducing incarceration, expanding mental and behavioral health.

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?

The county nursing home is supported by taxes and loans with supplemental support from the general revenue funds of about $1 million. This supplement amounts to 40 cents (¢) per person per month, which is not too much of a burden to continue a noble, 153-year tradition of providing dignity and care for the elderly in our county, particularly at the end of life.

Unfortunately the board has released a Request For Proposal (RFP) to sell the nursing home. Further action will depend upon the results of the RFP process which is progressing rapidly.

Any other information you would like to say to an undecided voters in Champaign County?

I would like to see the county board:

• Expand mental health and behavioral services to reduce conflicts, incarceration, and alcohol and substance abuse programs including prevention.
• Close the downtown jail, reduce incarceration (racial justice task force’s 31 recommendations), and support inmate re-entry and treatment of underlying causes.
• Retain the county nursing nursing home.
• Resume maintenance of county facilities, which has been deferred.
• Be fiscally responsible, update EDP for taxes and assessments, and adopt zero-based budgeting, not merely clone previous year’s budget.
• Promote sustainable economic growth.
• Protect Mahomet Aquifer water quality.

The News-Gazette also has a questionnaire answered by all candidates running for County Board District 10.

You can read their answers: here.

A video forum featuring each District 10 candidate was hosted by the League of Women Voters, The News-Gazette, and NAACP.

You can watch the full candidate forum: here.