Reason for running of the DuPage County Board

I’m Gary Fasules and I’m running for County Board District 4.  I’m a lifelong resident of DuPage County with over 10 years of elected public service including five months as Acting President of the Village of Glen Ellyn, where I’m currently a Trustee.   In addition, I have served on various community committees throughout my life, including District 41, District 87, and the GE Chamber of Commerce Many have asked me why I am running, it is quite simple, there are numerous defining moments in one’s life where they influence one’s decision to run- several of mine are: As Acting Village President during the beginning of the Pandemic, participate on weekly conference calls with the DuPage County Health Department and other DuPage Mayors allowed me to see how important it is to listen to all to come up with solutions to pressing problems. Again, as Acting Village President coordinating with OSCO, the Park District, and the Library and GE Police a mass vaccination clinic for Seniors.  Showed me what more we need to do for this group. Purchasing the hotel property on Roosevelt Rd, to jump start economic development there, I have discovered the need for many types of affordable housing- senior, live in place, alternative design zoning, medical assisted, is needed within our community and county. The effects of the pandemic has shown me how fragile our business community is, and for the need for supportive economic growth policies and programs. As Trustee Liaison to the Capital Improvements Committee, I have seen first-hand the need to maintain and improve government infrastructures for future generations. These experiences through my elected service, I believe, provide me with a unique opportunity to understand what needs to be advocated for residents of DuPage County.  We need to continue to improve the quality of life for all especially seniors and those in need, for business we need to promote economic growth after these trying times, for all residents there is a need to continue to improve our infrastructure, while striving to continue to make all resident’s safe including our law enforcement staff. But, most important, every resident, business, and municipality must feel part of the process of the county.  We must create a more engaged, open and transparent government. It is important that all can participate- openly and freely- regardless of views, in the decision-making process.  If elected, I pledge to work with all board members, listen to all residents’ and all groups to understand their points of view, and work to converge differing viewpoints into a decision that benefits all DuPage County residents and not just a few.  So, in the end, the real reason, is I was raised in a safe and prosperous DuPage County, so my desire is to create more opportunities, and a safer more prosperous DuPage County for future generation. Thank you for the opportunity tonight, and I hope to have your support in June.  Second, work needs to continue on making our County Government a more effective and efficient working body and that can act quickly.    

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? With ten years of elected public service including five months as Acting President of the Village of Glen Ellyn, I believe, that this provides me with a unique opportunity to understand what needs to be advocated for residents and businesses of DuPage County that is why I’m running.    

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? My elected public service at the local level provides me with the ability to advocate for making our County Government a more effective and efficient body as I have in Glen Ellyn, which is my main priority.  I bring to the board the experience in having to make decisions that balance investing in essential services, business incentives to promote economic growth, infrastructure improvements, and in the needs of our law enforcement to keep resident safe to the board.  Describe your position regarding the balance between county spending and revenues as it exists today, then describe the chief threats you see looming and how the county should deal with them. We must always look at the long term, to maintain stability and solvency of the county’s capital/operating budgets.  One of the biggest long-term threats is to the County’s Road Improvement Plan, where the present US trend of moving to more EV automobiles will have an impact on motor fuel tax and local gas taxes collected.  These two taxes, make up approximately 85% of the revenue for annual road improvement budget.  Any reductions in these taxes could have a major effect on the county’s ability to adequately repair its 200+ miles of roads.  

How do you rate the county government on transparency and the public's access to records? If it’s adequate, explain why. If you think improvements are needed, delineate them. I believe, local government must always strive to improve transparency to its residents. The county’s transparency portal is a good start, though, I would like to see a possible chat function added to the portal and the website.  Also, we need to revisit making the navigation of the portal to quickly get to the information the resident seeks by answering basic questions and giving advice as to where to go.  We should also look at the possibility of adding the major departments and committees to the portal, so the user can go straight to that information in these areas they need or want, instead of navigating to them.     

What, if anything, should be done to improve automation and customer service in county offices? What steps should be taken to make that happen? The County has taken done a very good job at improving automation and customer service, but we need to continue to provide and enhance services that are more convenient and accessible to the residents.  For example, in the development of the new website initiative, we should provide the residents with an on-line chat answer service, to help expedite their information requests.  We should look at the possibility of having remote locations or even remotely through Zoom.  These remote locations might be a partnership with the county’s municipal libraries where some of them already process US passports.  

Background- Ten years of elected local public service- Trustee of Village of Glen Ellyn & Acting Village President and current member of DuPage Mayors and Managers Legislative Committee including Trustee Liaison to Capital Improvements Commission, Police Pension Board, Board of Fire and Police Commission and Member Liquor Review Board Past Member of Village of Glen Ellyn’s Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals Past Community Activities Member of various District 41 & District 87 committees. Vice President of Marketing Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce President Glen Ellyn Public Access Foundation Current member of the League of Women Voters  

What steps should DuPage County health and sheriff's departments take to prevent opioid addiction and overdose?  I would encourage the sheriff to explore with the County Health Department the possibility of providing federally approved opioid treatment programs to inmates of the county jail.  

What is your opinion of the county board's actions and initiatives since Democrats assumed control of the board two years ago?  We need to put labels and rhetoric aside, and work as a nonpartisan group in the best interest of the residents of the county.   

Do you support the merger of additional county offices/departments?   I would encourage the continuation of this practice, whenever it feasible financially and practical from a  reporting responsibility aspect   

The county sheriff has taken several initiatives to help reform inmates (tattoo removal services, gardening classes, job placement). What other initiatives would you like to see in an effort to reform inmates?   I would support the continue efforts of the Sheriff to come up with unique and innovate ways to reform and rehabilitate inmates   

DuPage County recently provided the DuPage Foundation $10.6 million for a grant program designed to support nonprofit organizations that address food and housing insecurity, mental health and substance use issues. Discuss the county's role to further tackle these issues.  The county has a role to address all service that meet the needs for all its residents, not just a select few.   

Assess the DuPage County Health Department's actions to combat COVID-19.  The pandemic showed how unprepared all levels of government were in dealing with emergency health issues.  I would encourage the Health Department to develop a futuristic policy and procedures for mobilizing quick and effective efforts to meet emergency health situations.   

What changes, if any, need to be made related to the pandemic?  Get the municipalities more involved, what the county failed to understand that the municipality had the resources to act and mobilize on a much quicker base.  They had the facilities and manpower, which the Health Department did not.   

What actions can the DuPage County Board take to minimize the tax burden on residents while not sacrificing services?   Explore the possibility of implement more user fees to reduce the burden   

How would you encourage economic and employment growth within DuPage County?  Tax incentive to futuristic growth companies who would relocate to the county and bring with them jobs.    

Do you think there is a local crime problem? If so, what needs to be done about it?  We need to strive to make residents safe, by continuing to fund the County’s law enforcement agencies with staff, equipment, and training.  

What local road and bridge projects should be a priority to get done in the county?  The D & F on the Road Infrastructure plan   

Do you support decreasing local property taxes? If so, how would the county make up the difference?  Off sets will need to be identified before this can happen, we need to always make certain that adequate funds are available to keep the services the county provides functioning at a effective and efficient manner  

Please state your plan to maintain government transparency.  We always need to strive to improve government transparency to its constituents.  We need to look at ways to engage the residents in a more timely and effective manner, be it more town hall meetings, moving the board meeting from the morning to evening so more residents can participate.