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NAME: Thomas Koppie

POSITION FOR WHICH YOU ARE A CANDIDATE:

Kane County Board District (9)

1. Why are you seeking this position?

With T.R. Smith retiring after 10 years of dedicated and conservative service, he has decided to retire and he asked me to run to take his place. He wanted someone dedicated to the property tax freeze and someone who knew and understands agriculture to carry on for him. I am both a fiscal conservative and an active farmer.
Community and public service runs in my family. I served 10 years as Rutland Township Highway Commissioner and my father was elected to the District 300 School Board and currently presides as the Chairman of the Kane County Regional School Board.

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

I have a unique skill set that translates well to Kane County Board service. I have over 25 years of heavy equipment operator experience, building nuclear power plants, Chicago sky scrapers, and various other projects. I know construction inside and out and can use that knowledge to help with Kane County projects, making sure they are on time and on budget. I have 10 years as an elected Highway Commissioner, giving me deep understanding of road and bridge building in Kane County. And I am a farmer, with ground outside Hampshire, and have grown corn and soybeans on as much as 200 acres at a time. I would be one of just 2 farmers on the whole Board. Chairman Lauzen has indicated that he would use my expertise to make me a Committee Chairman in my first term, making me a more effective representative for District 9.

3. What will be your greatest challenge if elected?

Keeping the Kane County property tax freeze in place for four more years. It has been in place for six years through conservative budgeting and across the board spending cuts. We must continue to hold the line because our overall tax burden is too high. Kane County is doing its best to stem the tide of higher taxes and I will help the Board continue to set that standard.

Will you attend the 2/27 Dundee candidate forum? No, I will be unable to attend the forum.

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