BY MIKE CETERA
Leading up to the election, we'll post candidate questionnaires returned to us for contested Fox Valley elections. The candidates were instructed to respond to a series of questions regarding their race.
Up now: Kane County auditor. Find their answers after the jump.
William Keck, 69, a Republican is a four-term incumbent. Thomas Sandor, 58, a Democrat, is the challenger.
William Keck
Why are you running for this office? During my 16 years as Kane County Auditor, I've earned a reputation of independence and integrity as a watchdog for responsible Government. I'm running for re-election as Kane County Auditor so that I can continue to hold our County Government accountable for taxpayer dollars.
What makes you the most qualified candidate in this race? For incumbents, discuss your accomplishments. For challengers, what about the incumbent's time in office suggests there's a need for change?36 years of audit experience including 16 years of government audit experience as Kane County Auditor. Eliminated half a million dollars in unnecessary Government spending by recoveries from River Boat Grant recipients and cable television providers as well as protesting and abating claims of taxing authorities.
What are the most pressing issues facing the office you seek?Growth and it's effect on spending and communication. Improvement in communication technology will lead to a paperless office. Challenge will be to maintain integrity of audits through secure data retrieval.
If elected, will you take your pay raise?
No. By law I am required to receive the pay raise, however, I will donate the amount received.
Thomas Sandor
Why are you running for this office?
I am seeking the office of Kane County Auditor to restore an active an involved auditor within Kane County government. In recent years, the office has devolved to one whose primary function is the checking the clerical accuracy of claims against the county while forgoing the compliance audit function. I will restore the compliance function to insure the safe guard of assets under the control of the county.
What makes you the most qualified candidate in this race? For incumbents, discuss your accomplishments. For challengers, what about the incumbent's time in office suggests there's a need for change?
The key element I would bring to the office of auditor is my 35 years of experience in accounting and having a career that's spans both public and private practice. Additionally, having served as a Councilman in the City of Elgin, I understand the perspective of elected official who use the financial data to formulate their decision. The incumbent has not fulfilled the responsibility of performing compliance audits on a timely basis. This alone violates the role of the auditor, which is to safeguard the assets entrusted to the county by the taxpayers. The auditor can not safeguard assets unless he does audits.
What are the most pressing issues facing the office you seek?The most pressing issue is to increase the level of audits done on the various departments and contracts entered into by county government. Also, payroll audits have not been performed on a regular basis. The key issue is to establish and maintain a regular audit schedule and to make the results of the audits readily available to the public via the internet.
If elected, will you take your pay raise?Because of the passage of the salary increases, the county must pay the statutory compensation to elected officials, as well as payroll taxes and benefits on the compensation. This alone will cost the county an addition 10% over the base compensation. Due to state law, compensation can only be changed 180 days before an election. I will work with state legislators to change the law to allow for elected county officials to voluntarily elect to revert to a lower compensation level on an annual basis, thereby elimination the increased benefit and payroll tax costs. I will make this election.
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