Maripat Oliver: Candidate Profile

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: BolingbrookWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: DuPage Township Board (4-year Terms)Age: 45Family: I have been married for 25 years to Paul Oliver. We have five children, Catherine working on her teaching degree, Hannah Bolingbrook High School Senior, Natalie 7th Grade at Brooks Middle School, David 6th grade Brooks Middle School and Zachary 3rd gradOccupation: I am the Director Of Sales for the Best Western.Education: Joliet Junior College not finished with a Associates of Applied Sciences.Civic involvement: I sit on the Department of Children and Family Services, Post Adoption Advisory Board. I was appointed to the Children and Family Review Board by our previous Governor. I am an active parent in my son's Boy Scout Troupe and Cub Scout Pack.Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: 29 years ago as a young teenager I made the unfortunate mistake of shoplifting some shoes. It was a great life lesson for me and now as a parent I have taught my children there are consequences for our actions. It has been a learning tool! I could have left this off, however I wanted to share that great life lessons were learned from it.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Youth Services is where my heart lies. I have been in foster care, my brother aged out of the foster Care System at 18. In my adult years I have become a foster parent and have adopted three children. I know the IMPORTANCE of giving kids positive experinces and a place to feel that they belong with strong role models. The Township offers many services to children in low income homes in DuPage Township. In addition the Township also partners with other organizations that provide services to at risk children in DuPage Township, to help them continue their programs. We need to remember that it is more cost effective to put a child on the right path for a productive future then to pay $140,000 to arrest/trial and incarcerate a juvenile for 1 year. I will work to see the current services continue and to see where we can expand services.Key Issue 2 As the Baby Boomer generation continues to age our Senior Group conitunes to grow. We need to continue the services already in place to keep our seniors active and social as we also look to find new additional programs to aid our valued senior community.Key Issue 3 Seeing the current services offered by the DuPage Township to our residents continue, without raising the tax levy. 56,000 times in the last 4 years families in our community have used our food pantry, 600 homes were kept out of foreclosure, people falling behind on their utility bills had the Township to turn to. We need to continue these services and do so, without raising the tax levy.Questions Answers Name the three most important goals or objectives this board should tackle in the coming term. Prioritize them, and briefly discuss why you believe each to be critical, and how the board should go about addressing them.*With more families unable to afford park district classes and extra curricular actitivies for their children, the DuPage Township needs to continue the services to our youth and even expand services to keep our kids on a productive path. *As our Senior population grows we need to have a strong involvement in programs offered at the Levy Center to ensure they continue to stay active and social. *The food pantry continues to serve more people each year. It is a vital resource in our community and we need to continue to ensure that the amount of food that we have meets the needs of our residents. That is accomplished by continuing to grow relationships with the businesses and continuing to look for more ways to expand our reach to different oppportunities.In the 21st Century, with municipalities gobbling up vacant land, why are townships needed? Should they be serving a new role? If so, what?I am proud to say that the DuPage Township has stayed current with what the real issues are in the community. DuPage Township was the first Township in eliminate the road district. DuPage Township looked at what the immediate needs in the community are and provide the services there. Such as the food pantry that had over 15,000 visits last year, saved over 600 homes from foreclosure, and helped over 400 residents find jobs through the job fair they held.What should be the primary responsibility of township government?The primary responsibility of Township Government is being a safety net for the people.In these hard economic times, can you identify some township expenses/programs that could be trimmed or eliminated to reduce the tax burden?Seeing that the Township has been able to provide an array of services to residents in need without raising the tax levy in the past four years, is amazing. It should make everyone take notice of all that can be done on 1% of your tax dollars! To trim or eliminate programs to the residents of DuPage Township would be detrimental to those needing the services.What specific background or experience do you bring that makes you the best qualified candidate to serve as an elected official in the township?My experince serving on the DCFS Boards and being a foster/adoptive parent, has given me a very broad view of people in need and how they came to be in need. I understand the need for our Youth Services that help the at risk kids in our community and WHY disbanning these services would actually hurt the community at large. The need for job fairs and getting people back to work and giving them the feeling of accomplishment, as well as helping people in the rears of their utility bills so that they can maintain the basics in life. What I bring to the Township Table is a SINCERE desire to serve and to help people in need. My vote as a Trustee will be to best serve the people that are in our Township with the same wonderful services that the Award Winning Slate has been doing. Continuum of services.