Daniel Ensing
March 28, 2011 1:20PM
Dan Ensing
Office sought: Alderman, 5th Ward, City of Oak Forest
Name: Daniel Ensing
Address: 14942 Sheila Ct. Oak Forest, Ill. 60452
Date of birth: January 12, 1973
Contact information
Email: ensingforalderman@gmail.com
Web site: N/A
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ensingforalderman
Telephone numbers:
Cell: 708-275-8692
Education: Bachelor of Arts in History, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Occupation, employer: Organized Retail Crime Investigator, Dominick’s Finer Foods
Please list all sources of income: Dominick’s Finer Foods
Spouse, spouse’s employer: Babette Ensing, Cook County Adult Probation
Children, age of children, children’s employer (if applicable): Collin Ensing, 8, Riley Ensing, 6
Please list any relatives, including in-laws, who are employed by a government agency at the federal, state or local levels. What are their job titles and with what agency are they employed? N/A
What other elected offices have you sought? What year? N/A
Have you ever been arrested or charged with a crime? If so, for what? What was the disposition?
I was arrested while in college, 1994, for Fighting by Agreement (a city ordinance charge). I was given 90 days supervision, paid a fine, and it was removed from my record.
Do you have any criminal convictions on your record? If so, for what? What was your sentence? N/A
Political (elected or significant appointment) experience: Oak Forest Plan and Zone Commission, 1996-2000
In your view, what are the two most important issues facing your constituents? How would you address those issues?
1. I believe the 5th Ward needs greater communication between the alderman and the residents. If I elected I would have a dedicated email address and list my cell phone number as my primary contact. I pledge to return all calls or emails within 12 hours. I would also like to set up monthly meetings within the Fifth Ward in order to meet face-to-face with the residents.
2. I would like to see more improvement and beautification dollars being spent in the Fifth Ward. This is a wonderful area to live in, and I believe the residents deserve to have more money spent in the ward.
Please explain something significant you would like to accomplish within the next two years if you are elected to the office to which you aspire.
I would like to see Oak Forest residents be able to buy clothing in the city. Currently we have to go to neighboring towns to by shirts, pants, jackets, etc. I would work with other city departments and elected officials to attract a clothing store to the city.
Please explain how you believe the office you’re seeking can help in creating local jobs.
I believe the alderman position can work with other city departments and local businesses to promote Oak Forest to residents of neighboring communities. I also believe the alderman position should work to keep taxes and fees low in order to retain the current businesses and attract new businesses.
Do you believe the current way Illinois pays for education is working? If so, why? If not, why not? What would you change?
The current way Illinois pays for education is not working. It has placed a burden on property taxes and has left school districts without adequate funding. One source of funding that could be used for schools is to place a sales tax on Internet purchases.
Would you make any changes to the budget of the governing unit to which you are seeking elected office? If so, what?
I would like to see the city not renew the current economic development contract and bring that position back in-house by hiring a city administrator with economic development experience.
Rather than have an outside engineering company I would like to see the city combine the city engineer position with the Director of Public Works position.
