2012 Primary Election Profile: Suzanne Petrella

Previous elected or appointed positions: Kendall County Board representative, elected; Redistricting Committee forYorkville School District 115, appointed.

1) What can you do to foster economic development in Kendall County? What level of cooperation do you think is necessary with municipalities to accomplish this?

I take a collaborative approach and work with municipalities and surrounding communities to determine successful steps to take.  Small, local businesses really are at the heart of economic development and we should encourage their growth.  

I am a member United Counties Council of Illinois, which consists of approximately 80 member counties that meet monthly.  Economic development is a prime focus at these meetings, as well as other local issues. I also attend seminars throughout the year to further focus on particular areas of interest. I bring back ideas and perspective to Kendall County that directly affect business growth.

I am an active member on the River Valley Workforce Investment Board, which handles almost 3 million dollars of funding. It is a key player in the economic growth and competitiveness of the River Valley and surrounding regions including Kendall, Kane and DeKalbcounties. 

2) Would you support a 0.75 percent RTA sales tax to locate a Metra stop in Kendall County? 

I have taken the Pace bus to Aurora several times and the Pace bus at rush hour but is surprisingly more than half empty. I am seeking input from local community members, as their interest will dictate whether something like this will be worthwhile.  I will be interested to see how this develops. This is actually a vote which will be in the hands of the voters.

3) What lessons did you draw from the dog bite incident and its aftermath? Do youthink the changes the county has made at Animal Control are adequate?

I think the changes have been very effective. Our new management, rules, and the outpouring of volunteer help has been amazing. Not only does it help the employees at animal control, but also our public safety and police officers. I have seen nothing but improvement and community involvement.

4) Do you think the redistricting process was fair for people who live in thecounty’s larger municipalities? 

Yes.  This redistricting was the first one I experienced first hand and as a complicated issues, I did not take it lightly. Citizens of Kendall County contributed on this issue as well. Elizabeth Flowers, the chair of this committee, was fair in giving all perspectives a voice. I attended a statewide meeting to learn about redistricting techniques that are most compatible with the current community.  

Here in Kendall, the two guidelines in state statute were followed exactly:  (1) affect the least number of voters and (2) use natural boundaries.  The recent redistricting plan that took effect in Kendall county was the only option presented that achieved both requirements.

5) Aside from the issues discussed above, what issue or problem do you think the county board should address, and what action would you take if elected/re-elected?

The county budget is always important and we need to constantly review it to ensure our citizens see maximum results.  As I said before, small and local businesses are truly the heart of our community and their growth should be a priority.  

Redo the county’s website to make it work for our citizens.  This is an untapped resource that, if improved, could provide information, accessibility and transparency.  An improved website would play a role in attracting businesses and provide another forum for citizens' input.

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