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6 | October 18, 2018 | The Homer Horizon Election 2018 homerhorizon.com Will County District 9 Board Member (3 for 2 seats) Name: Jim Murphy Age: 61 Town of Residence: Joliet Occupation: Creative Director, J.V. Murphy & Associates Marketing, Advertising & Public Relations Elected Political Experience: I am a first-time candidate for a major elected office. Why are you running for election in District 9? I believe my strong business experience and years of local community involvement will be of value to the residents and businesses in District 9, and to the entire Will County Board. Having lived in Will County for more than 30 years, I have a deep understanding of District 9’s past, a positive vision for its future and will be a strong voice for this extremely diverse district. Name: Rachel Ventura Age: 37 Town of Residence: Joliet Occupation: Business Director, Legendary Games Elected Political Experience: Did not provide answer Why are you running for election in District 9? I’m running for Will County Board District 9 because I believe we need a government that works for everyone! I plan to focus on the issues and find bold solutions to the everyday kitchen table problems. I’m committed to listening to the issues, researching the problem, asking the tough questions and working to create solutions that best represent the needs of the people and area. What makes you the best candidate for this position? I am a native of Joliet. I spent 10 What makes you the best candidate for this position? My business experience includes managing multi-million dollar budgets, as well as directing employee staffs of up to 350 people. I have been actively involved in the local community for several decades working with, and volunteering for, many nonprofit organizations. I support fiscally responsible leadership, road improvements and capital projects, creating job growth in Will County, expanding Will County green spaces and providing County government employees with technology and training so they remain efficient and effective. I am strongly endorsed by the Will County Deputy Sheriff’s Union, Joliet Firefighters Local 44, American Federation of Teachers Local 604, the Will-Grundy Central Trades & Labor Council, the Will-Grundy Building Trades, Operating Engineers Local 150, the National Association of Letter Carriers and many more. years as a military spouse, which allows me to bring both local experiences and new ideas to the table. I have worked as an actuary, a substitute teacher, a state park naturalist, a pet nurse, a marketing manager, and, currently, I am a business director. I volunteer for Joliet School District 86, Girl Scouts, Educurious, Bicentennial Park and the American Legion Auxiliary. As a single mother of twins, I understand today’s kitchen table problems like high property taxes, safe roads, keeping our loved one’s safe and good jobs. With years of experience serving others through my work and volunteerism, I am ready to serve my community as a member of the Will County Board District 9. What are the Top 3 issues you see facing the district, and what would you do to solve them? My first priority would be to invest in our infrastructure. The expanse of warehouses in the area has increased truck traffic and deteriorated our What are the Top 3 issues you see facing the district, and what would you do to solve them? I have walked all of District 9’s six Townships and 25 precincts twice in order to listen to the concerns of residents. They clearly believe that our inferior roads and infrastructure are Will County’s biggest issue, and I completely agree. The Joliet-area portion of Interstate 80 was completed over 50 years ago and was not designed to serve today’s high traffic counts. I-55 must be improved and widened, as well. Many of our local bridges have been declared “structurally deficient” by [the Illinois Department of Transportation]. I will work together with all County Board members to show a united front to Springfield and Washington, D.C. in order to fast track and secure funding of major construction projects that will dramatically improve the level of safety on our highways today and for the future. I will also work to maintain or improve Will County’s AA+ bond rating. An excellent bond rating lowers the cost of doing government business. I do not believe in spending money we don’t have, and the taxpayer’s back is only so big. Finally, I will work with all parties to find a bipartisan solution to the region’s dwindling water supply. We must look at all possible water sources and make long-term decisions that will secure an adequate supply for generations to come at the lowest possible cost. This is not a Republican or Democrat issue. It’s a quality of life issue for all Will County residents and businesses. roads and bridges. I plan to work with all levels of government to create an intergovernmental solution since more than 60 percent of the truck traffic in Will County is from outside the county. By focusing on projects like the I-80 expansion and bridge, we can create a safer interstate but also provide better economic development that residents can support, and thus better jobs in the county. Secondly, investing in other infrastructure, like renewal energy such as wind and solar, also provides jobs but helps offset the warehouse and truck emissions. Couple this with responsible land preservation, and we can make Will County a greener place to live. Lastly, opioid deaths and addiction continue to affect residents in my district. I would like to create an opioid treatment center at the new health department and expand mental health services, as well. I support the Safe Passage programs at Please see ventura, 12 Name: Annette Parker Age: 48 Town of Residence: Crest Hill Occupation: Executive Director, Lockport Chamber of Commerce Elected Political Experience: Will County Board (2014-18); Vice President Forest Preserve District of Will County (2016- 2018); Lockport Township Park Board (2012-2014) Why are you running for reelection in District 9? I want to continue to improve the quality of life for all residents and keep the positive progress moving forward. In the last four years since being elected, I have voted to reduce the county property tax rate while still providing residents topquality service, maintained and preserved green space, supported opioid prevention, treatment and recovery, and promoted job growth. I want to keep Chicago politics out of Will County and retain our own identity. What makes you the best candidate for this position? I have consistently demonstrated an ability to interact with constituents, listen to varied views, attend neighborhood meetings, participate in discussions and delve into and broaden my understanding of county issues. I am a lifelong resident and am highly engaged with the community. I am a proven leader and dedicated to every cause I become involved with. District 9 is diverse and composed of different religions, ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds. Due to this makeup, it is important to have a member from each political party to be the voice of the people. I am the only Republican asking to represent District 9. I am the only candidate that has been previously elected, and my record of bipartisanship shows I look for the right decisions. [Response truncated for exceeding word count] What are the Top 3 issues you see facing the district, and what would you do to solve them? 1. Property taxes are the No. 1 complaint. Some residents are being forced to sell their homes and move because their tax bill has gone beyond what they can afford. As the County Board representative in District 9 and vice president of the Forest Preserve, I have voted against tax increases and have voted to reduce the tax rate for the last four years while still providing residents with quality services. If elected, I will continue to fight against tax increases. 2. Infrastructure needs and safety of our roads. With Will County located in the Midwest, near the third-largest city in the country and having three interstates surround us, truck traffic will no doubt be traveling through our county. I have been working diligently with state and federal officials to tell our story of infrastructure needs. This past September, Will County was awarded State and Federal funding in the amount of $47 million for interchange and infrastructure improvements on I-80 at Route 30. I will continue to beat that drum and fight for funding from state and federal agencies to improve the safety and efficiency of our roads. 3. Opioids are becoming more dangerous, easier to obtain and are affecting people of all ages. An increase in use, addiction and deaths are on the rise. Opioid addiction is a physical and mental illness and needs to be treated as such. I have supported the education and awareness about the dangers of this drug. I have been in favor of Will County taking actions to deal with this issue head on, such as working with the Sheriff’s Office, State’s Attorney and specialty courts, supplying Narcan to all Sheriff deputies, supporting the Safe Passage programs and working with hospitals for recovery. I will continue to vote to support opioid prevention, treatment and recovery.
homerhorizon.com election 2018 the Homer Horizon | October 18, 2018 | 7 Will County District 7 Board Member (3 for 2 seats) Name: Steve Balich Age: 68 Town of Residence: Homer Glen Occupation: Will County Board Member Elected Political Experience: Homer Township Trustee for eight years, Homer Township Clerk for four years and Will County Board Member for five years. Why are you running for reelection in District 7? I want to serve the people of Will County to the best of my ability always remembering to stand for only what is in the best interest of people. I believe in less taxes, regulation and a smaller government. I have been very vocal about not raising the property tax rate, since I understand that property values decrease as taxes increase. I also understand seniors and others on a fixed income can be forced out of their home when taxes increase. [response truncated for exceeding word count] What makes you the best candidate for this position? The thing that separates me from other candidates is experience and understanding how to get issues addressed in government. I am not afraid to speak out, even if no person in the room agrees with me. It is my job to convince others to join me in doing what is best for the people. Beside being against increased taxes, a good example is getting the County policy changed to: when your car is towed and you are found innocent in court, your attorney can ask for your money back for towing, storage and administration expenses. The belief that what is good for the people is not always what is good for the government is very important. Participation in government, private groups, organizations and clubs help me want to listen to people and understand their needs. [response truncated for exceeding word count] What are the Top 3 issues you see facing the district, and what would you do to solve them? I recognize excessive taxes is the single most important issue facing our county. As taxes increase, property value and family disposable income decrease. The State of Illinois continually passes on unfunded mandates, and, at the same time, takes away more and more money from what is supposed to come in the form of grants for needed projects. This puts the County in a bad position. The problem of necessary programs being stopped is not what anyone wants, but taxes can’t be raised enough to pay what is needed to keep these programs funded. Simply put, programs funded by the State will end when the State stops funding them. These programs only existed because of State funding. Getting people to understand the State is responsible for funding, not the County, which is only administering the program, is very important. The courthouse, sheriff facility and health department are being built while lowering the tax rate. Republicans took control of the Board three years ago, saying no to the Public Safety Tax proposed by the Democrats as a method of funding. These buildings should have been replaced long ago. Public safety and jobs will continue to be a huge issue. We need to support our police, who must deal with media-driven disdain for police. Heroin is a problem we are addressing with education. However, creating a positive environment where addicts can get a good job and even raise a family should be a goal. Putting people in jail is very costly. The County is currently trying to find innovative ways to reduce the jail population. We need to continue to bring good paying jobs to our county. Name: Mike Fricilone Age: 63 Town of Residence: Homer Glen Occupation: Sales Elected Political Experience: Will County Board Member, Chairman of the Finance Committee, Vice Chair of the Capital Improvement Committee, Forest Preserve of Will County Commissioner, Chairman of the Operations Committee FPD, President of the LTHS Foundation and Children’s Advocacy Center Board Member Why are you running for reelection in District 7? I want to continue the work of making sure our residents receive the best services at the lowest cost. I want to serve the individual, as well as the community as a whole, and public service is the best way to do that. My cell number is (708) Name: Kyle P. Killacky Age: 23 Town of Residence: Homer Glen Occupation: Student Elected Political Experience: Been involved in local politics since 2015 Why are you running for election in District 7? I am running because I believe I can make a difference. Right now, our politics is so divisive and ugly. It is turning off the voters. Both sides demonize the other, and that is not how any government should work. Yes, we have many different views, but I am sure we can find common ground. In the words of Maya Angelou, “We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.” [Response truncated for exceeding word count.] What makes you the best candidate for this position? I think I would bring a more 310-9831, and my email is mike fricilone@gmail.com. I want to be accessible to all our county residents. What makes you the best candidate for this position? I am a businessman. I look at things different than the typical politician. I want to reduce the tax burden while increasing the County services. It can be done! Efficient government and wise spending can make that happen. On my website, mikefricilone. com, you can see a list of my accomplishments, which should give you a sense of my experience. Over the last three years as chairman of the Finance Committee, I have eliminated pensions for all County Board Members, reduced the County Tax rate three times and yet we have increased the budget at the health department, provided more drug awareness programs, built a new public safety complex, started the build youthful, more modern take on how the county works. I think I can bring fresh, new and exciting ideas to the county. Having people that bring fresh ideas to the table is very vital in leading the County into the future. If we keep electing the same people, with the same ideas, then the county isn’t moving forward. What are the Top 3 issues you see facing the district, and what would you do to solve them? 1. Jobs. Will County is growing, and with that growth, we need jobs. People think that putting up warehouses is the solution; it is not. Warehouses are, in my view, a band-aid and are not a long-term solution. They are fine now, but they will not last. Automation is sadly the future, and we need to prepare for that future. Plus, for what I heard from people who have worked in those warehouses, they do not have great working conditions. We need jobs that treat workers like human beings, and that pay their workers a living wage. On the board, I will work to get those on our new county courthouse and will soon start the build on our new health department. [response truncated for exceeding word count] What are the Top 3 issues you see facing the district, and what would you do to solve them? 1. Continue to work on reducing our taxes. 2. Continue oversight on our spending and operations, making sure the taxpayer is getting the best services for what they pay. 3. Continue the fight against drug use, especially with our children. The earlier our children are educated on the dangers of drugs, the better prepared they will be to fight this battle. I will continue to ask both the State and Federal government for grant dollars to fight this epidemic. We are getting results, as this past week the Feds approved legislation providing funding to local governments to help in the fight. jobs into the county. 2. To get well-paying jobs in Will County, we must continue to invest in our infrastructure. The county is doing a good job, but we need and I will do more to fix our crumbling roads. 3. The biggest priority that I have on my list is battling the heroin epidemic. It seems that it is getting worse, and our county needs to do more. They must invest more in our county health department. Right now, our health department is underfunded, and at a time when we have a health epidemic raging in the county, our health department should not be underfunded. It was insane to think that in 2016 there were people on the board that wanted to defund the health department. We also need to make sure the Sheriff’s Department has enough resources to continue their hardfought battle in lowering the death toll. The Sheriff’s Department has been successful, but they need more help from the board. These things are vital in combating this disease. This is the most important issue facing the county.
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