Metro. Water Reclamation District SMITH: 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.

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BioQ&A

Bio

City: CHICAGO

Website: www.greens4mwrd.org

Office sought:

Metro. Water Reclamation District

Age: 58

Family: 3 DAUGHTER 1 SON 2 GRANDCHILDREN

Occupation: NONE

Education: SOME COLLEGE

Civic involvement: NBCU

Elected offices held: WARD COMMITTEEMAN

Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NO

Questions & 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? What specific professional qualifications do you possess that would make you excel in this office?

BRING ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY WITH INSPECTOR GENERAL WITH FULL POWER

If you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us of any important initiatives you've led. If you are a challenger, what would you bring to the board and what would your priority be?

ACCOUNTABILITY, OPEN UP OFFICE TO ALL CITIZENS, TERM LIMITS

How do you view the role the district has played in controlling flooding in Cook County and what, if any, actions need to be taken to improve things?

FLOODING HAS NOT BEEN CONTROLLED, WOULD EXAMINE WAYS TO CONTROL FLOODING WITHOUT POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS

Does the board have the right number of commissioners to adequately represent all parts of the district?

UNKNOWN SINCE THE MAJORITY OF CITIZEN OF COOK COUNTY HAS NO IDEA WHAT THE MWRD DOES.

How do you rate the MWRD on transparency and the public's access to records? If you consider it adequate, please explain why. If you think improvements are needed, please describe them and why they are important

THERE IS NO TRANSPARENCY, CASE IN POINT, NEW PRIVATE PARK BUILT WITH PUBLIC MONEY, ONLY POLITICALLY CONNECTED CHILDREN CAN GET SUMMER JOBS THROUGH THE MWRD, INSPECTOR GENERAL WOULD EXPOSE THESE DISCEPANCIES.

What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?

OPEN GOVERNMENT, ENDING POLITICAL PATRONAGE, DISTRICT IS CURRENTLY ALL DEMOCRATS.

Please name one current leader who most inspires you.

NONE COME TO MIND

What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?

KEEP THRIVING FOR YOUR DREAM

If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?

NOT WASTING 15 YEARS ON MILITARY, INSTEAD WOULD HAVE COMPLETED COLLEGE

What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?

HISTORY, ENCOURAGED ME TO LEARN MORE THAN TAUGHT IN SCHOOL

If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?

ALWAYS TREAT OTHER PEOPLE THE WAY YOU WANT TO BE TREATED