Name: Devin McCrate

Position for which you are a candidate: Dundee Township Trustee

Why are you seeking this position?

I’m running because I believe the township’s services are vital to the community, and I want to help make sure its resources are put to the best possible use. To me, that means maintaining our open spaces, providing short-term assistance for people in economic difficulties, and keeping routine costs under control. Having followed the current board’s activity, I believe there are opportunities to cut unnecessary expenses and to find outside funding to support township programs.

What experience and background do you have which qualifies you for this position?

Most of the township budget goes to personnel expenses like salaries, overtime, and insurance. I spent the first 15 years of my career helping organizations manage those costs, including several years as a consultant to municipal governments and other public entities. I’ve developed and managed budgets much larger and more complex than the township budget, and I’m confident I can help find ways to cut unnecessary costs and make the most of the township’s funds.

On a personal level, I’ve had a lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship. Some of my earliest volunteer activities involved cleaning up neglected green spaces and raising money for a local wetlands restoration project. I learned early on to appreciate the importance of our open spaces, from both a recreational and ecological point of view, and as a trustee I’ll do everything I can to protect those vital resources.

What will be your highest priorities if elected?

Balancing the budget. With the defeat of last year’s ballot referendum, the board needs a plan to ensure the Township’s long-term financial health. Part of that will happen through reducing expenses, which I believe can be done without cutting staff salaries or essential services. The other part of the plan needs to be an ongoing effort by the board to find grants and other sources of external funding. It may take more than one year to get there, but the job of balancing the budget needs to start now.
Continued development of the open space program. Open space is the most visible township program for most residents, and it provides tremendous benefits to the community. Preserving and enhancing our open spaces should always be one of the board’s top priorities.
Building awareness of township services. Part of a trustee’s role should be to engage with the community to help people understand what the township has to offer. As a trustee, I’ll work to make sure residents are aware of programs that can help them, and recruit volunteers for open space projects and other township initiatives.
Promoting cooperation and coordination between departments. The township is a small operation with limited resources, and we need to do everything we can to maximize its efficiency. There are several ways to make that happen, the most important of which is sharing more resources between the highway department, cemetery, and open space program.

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