Diane Selmer For Oswego Township Trustee: Patch Candidate Profile

Name: DIANE SELMER
Age: SENIOR CITIZEN
Position Sought: OSWEGO TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE
Family: SISTER, BROTHER, 2 NIECES, 2 NEPHEWS
Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? NO
Education: Roosevelt University, Employee Benefit/Legal Research certificate
Occupation: Retired Executive Secretary/Benefits Analyst, reported to the V. P. Human Resources, Pechiney Services America (formerly National Can Company), 30 years with the company
Why are you running?
A breech of trust in our local township government has occurred and we must work to restore the belief in our constituents that we are accountable to them and operating this unit of government with the sole purpose of meeting their needs rather than self enrichment. I desire to loyally serve constituents, seeking election as a public servant without desiring to be a politician. Restore accountability, integrity, transparency to township government.
Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office:
Republican Precinct Committeeman----currently elected
Corresponding Secretary, Kendall County Republican Women---currently elected
Prior appointed to Oswego's Legislative, Policy, H. R. Committee

Campaign Website: Facebook, Diane Selmer, Republican Candidate for Oswego Township Trustee

What do you hope to accomplish in office? Residents are choked to death with property taxes from so many governmental bodies, and I would like it to be my priority to lower the township tax levy. Transparency in government via a website whereby residents can access meeting agendas, minutes, job postings, budgets, bills paid to which vendors. If there was transparency via the website, likely the need for township residents to file FOIA requests for information would become minimal. There was discussion at the annual meeting I attended about selling the former township office buildings and property on Rt. 71, and was approved to do so in 2015, and still has not be listed---this property needs to be marketed and sold. Abiding by and operating within the rules of law.

How would you hold local government employees accountable?
According to what I have read in state law, it is the road commissioner whose job it is to hold his employees accountable, and the supervisor who oversees the administrative assistant and cemetery employees. As a concerned taxpayer, from my observations, employees are paid through an honor system and would like to recommend either time slips for approval or possibly a time clock for the incoming road commissioner to implement. There should also be job descriptions, standards of performance and annual employee reviews.

Explain your attitudes toward fiscal policy, government spending and how taxpayer dollars should be handled by your office (or board)?
Trustees are responsible for certifying the tax levy, and I would not certify any tax increase, but hopefully lower the levy. Trustees are responsible for carefully auditing all expenditures along with backup data to ensure the expenses submitted are indeed legitimate, and if elected will absolutely take the same care that I do with my own checkbook, as I have a fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers do so. Regarding government spending---government needs to do more with less taxpayer dollars, and needs to find ways to streamline government, achieve efficiencies, while meeting the needs of residents.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
My 30 years working at a major company at the corporate level brings a totally different viewpoint to the role of the Trustee, which I believe will be beneficial to the taxpayers. Some of my responsibilities included auditing of retiree hospital bills, assimilation/submission of government required reports from all plant locations on a timely basis, avoiding large fines for the company, responsibility for meeting planning for annual human resources conferences with 100 attendees, with budget, along with regional meetings; administrative support at union negotiations, and legal research as assigned, while always seeking ways to streamline processes saving the company money.

What else would you like voters to know about you and your positions?

First and foremost, I am a fiscally conservative Republican running for Township Trustee. If elected, I will be accountable to not only the taxpayers but will be held accountable by the Republican party. In talking with many township residents----property taxes are the main issue and many have spoken to me of a timeline to sell citing Kendall County property taxes are the highest in Illinois, and certainly no longer affordable for those of us retirees on fixed retirement incomes. Elected officials need to be aware of constituents concerns, not disappear until they want to be re-elected. Being retired, have time to be accessible for township residents and hope to be able to make a difference if township residents choose to elect me to a Trustee position. I support term limits, and I am opposed to any elected officials hiring any family members.

Photo provided by Diane Selmer