Peter Camin
March 29, 2011 8:04PM
Updated: March 29, 2011 8:04PM
Office sought: Commissioner for the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District
Address: 427 Strieff, Glenwood, Il 60425
DOB: 8/21/55
Contact info: Email camin427@aol.com
Telephone numbers: cell 708-752-5152
Education: BS degree, Northern Illinois University. Major was Finance, minor was Economics
Occupation: Independent Financial Consultant
Sources of income: my income from my position and my spouses income from her employer
Spouse, Spouse employer: Denise, employer Devry University
Children: One adult age daughter, employed by KSL (advertising firm)
Any relative employed in government positions: None
What other elective offices have you sought: was appointed to fill a vacancy on the HFPD board in October 2003, elected in 2005.
Ever been arrested: no
Criminal convictions: no
Political or significant appointment experience: locally currently serve as Chair of the 80th legislative district Parks and Recreation committee. I am the immediate past president of HFPD. Former board member of Homewood Rotary and former president of the HF Swim Club. On a state wide basis I serve on the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) legislative committee and I am a board member of the Illinois Park District Liquid Asset Fund, which is a $300 million money market fund for park districts. Nationally, I am a member of the board of directors of the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA). I serve on the NRPA public policy committee and I am president of the Citizen Branch of NRPA which represents all the elected and appointed officials of park districts from around the country.
In my view, what are the two most important issues facing your constituents/ How would address those issues?
We have a number of facilities and parks that are getting up in age and maintaining those facilities to the high standards we have set for ourselves is one of my highest priorities.
Second, we need to continue to provide value to our residents. Of our total budget only 35 percent is tax revenue. The remainder comes from various user fees and charges. Maintaining that level of efficiency can be one of the best goals I have for HFPD.
Explain something significant you would like to accomplish within the next two years: As our residents continue to seek avenues for their leisure activities (and potentially smaller budgets) making it obvious to them that HFPD offers an incredible amount of facilities and programs that they can use right in their backyard.
Explain how this office can help in creating jobs: In my positions on the legislative committee for Illinois and the public policy committee for NRPA, I am constantly advocating positions on various bills that will increase jobs within the park district industry and the continued funding at both a state and national level of grants and programs that allow for the improved use of parks by everyone.
Do you believe the way Illinois pays for education is working? As a park district commissioner I have no influence on the legislation done at a state level for the allocation of monies for a school district.
Would I make any changes to the budget of the governing unit to which you are seeking office? No, as I stated previously, our budget is made up of 35 percent tax revenue. One of the lowest percentages among the park districts I know of.
Other issues you want to bring to the public’s attention? No
