Orland Township Together Candidate: Patrick Feldner

ORLAND TOWNSHIP, IL — Meet Patrick Feldner, seeking re-election as Orland Township Trustee with the Orland Township Together slate, in the April 2021 Consolidated Election. The election is April 6.

Feldner recently filled out the Patch candidate survey, and his answers can be seen below.

If you are a candidate for the April election, and would like to answer our Patch candidate questionnaire, please email yasmeen.sheikah@patch.com

Patrick Feldner

Age (as of Election Day)

57

Town/City of Residence

Orland Park

Office Sought

Township board

Party Affiliation (if a partisan race)

Orland Township Together

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Bachelor’s of Science from Illinois Institute of Technology in Computer Science
Master’s of Science from Illinois Institute of Technology in Computer Science

Occupation

Owner of two small Businesses
- Defin.Net Solutions, a local Orland Park business offering IT consulting to other local businesses. The client base ranges from midsize companies and extends through Fortune 500 corporations since 1999.
- CAIRS Solutions, a software as a service provider supplying adoption and foster care case management, client marketing, and compliance management services online. The company was established in 2010.

Campaign website

ott2021.com

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Orland Township Trustee

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The COVID-19 is not only the biggest issue facing our township, it is also the issue we have the most control over on the township board. The economic distress from the CORONA-19 pandemic has been swift and unprecedented. Many local businesses and public spaces were shut down throughout Illinois and the nation. Consumer spending dropped significantly. Unemployment drastically grew. But what matters is not what we will do, but what we have already done. We will:
- Continue to offer our popular drive thru Flu Shot opportunities
- Continue to offer safe and reliable senior transportation to medical appointments
- Continue to offer tax appeals and senior freezes remotely so our residents are safe and protected
- Continue to offer drive thru food pantry services for those in our community in need of help
- Continue to offer Scholarships to local high school students at no cost to taxpayers (501 C3)
- Continue to accomplish more by spending less thru promoting community affiliations in conjunction with local merchants, small businesses, local eateries, health care providers, universities and countless volunteers
- Continue with blood drives to help fill the critical need for blood during this Pandemic

Do you support Black Lives Matter and what are your thoughts on the demonstrations held since the death of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake?

Throughout last Summer, the chant of “Black Lives Matter!” resonated across the United States. These chants took many forms of protests in many cities and even around the world. I am in full support of people’s right to protest, and sympathize with the motivations of Black Lives Matter protesters. I believe there are very valid concerns of protestors and these valid concerns need to be addressed. One thing in any protest which I have issue with is looting and vandalizing under the guise of protest. The destruction of people’s livelihood in the name of protest simply contradicts the basis for Black Lives Matter. We need to have serious, positive change, and violence does not lead to that.

Do you think the current board has done enough to support racial equality, and if not, what specifically should be done to do so?

Yes. We have numerous policies in place to ensure fair allocation of project funds to the most responsible bidders. We have open job applications in the Township for all to apply. We equally distribute assistances to those in need and within the guidelines of the law.

What are your thoughts on the national and local coronavirus response? Do you favor measures such as limiting operation of non-essential businesses and restricting indoor/outdoor dining? And do you favor a local mask mandate?

My thoughts on the national coronavirus response are that we are behind on distribution. Distribution of the currently approved vaccines are hard to come by and even harder for residents to schedule. I know first-hand trying to schedule appointments for my wife and my wife’s parents, all of which are in phase 1b.
To me, the game changing factor will be the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. It allows for a single dose and J&J vaccine does not require the same level of freezing storage. All this with a efficacy rate of about 85%. This still does not preclude the need for observation. Observation for reactions, will still require the process to be held within a facility. Also then the need for trained medical personnel to handle any adverse reactions.
Do I favor measures such as limiting operation of non-essential businesses and restricting indoor/outdoor dining? I do favor the limitation, but no one should ever be forced out of business because of a health crisis beyond their control. Local businesses, in general, are quite resourceful, responsible, and willing to change to what is required and meet safety guidelines within reason. We should do what we can in government to keep them afloat.
I personally wear my mask and encourage others to do so. At the moment, I support current policies.

What are your thoughts on the state and local coronavirus vaccine distribution, and how do you think local governments should work together to handle vaccine rollout?

I do believe we all need to pull together for this to be solved. I know Illinois has invested in a software platform, EMTrack, which is free and runs on all iPhones, iPads and Andriod devices. It provides the technology to manage the vaccine distribution process to residents. It covers all components of the process including:
1. Set up of vaccination events
2. Resident answers screening questions on website
3. Eligible resident schedules an appointment and submits demographic information
4. Resident receives ticket with barcode
5. Resident receives text & email confirmation
6. Resident receives text & email reminder
7. Residents arrives at vaccine location with ticket
8. Resident checks in with barcode for appointments (all information collected is available with NO typing on the person running the check in process)
9. The medical person logs when the vaccine is administer
10. The event personnel monitor the residents during post vaccine observation time
11. The event personnel log the Resident leaving the vaccination event
12. The application sends all required data to Illinois I-CARE (The Township Health Services became I-CARE certified under our tenure)
13. Resident receives reminder for 2nd dose and is returned to step 2
The issue for us is not the interaction with the villages, fire departments, police, or acquisition of the medical staff for administration. It is the acquisition of the vaccines themselves from the County.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am an experienced public servant, well qualified for the job, running with a slate of candidates all well-known and deeply involved in our community. The decades of experience my slate and I bring to the table will be invaluable in navigating the next decade of politics in Illinois.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Passing term limits and bringing as many new services at no cost to the taxpayer to Orland as possible.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Beyond my service on the record as an elected official, voters can consider my experience:
- Owning and running several businesses, which has afforded me a respect for spending money appropriately and NOT over committing financially.
- Consulting for Fortune 500 companies which provides me with a process-oriented mentality. The position of Trustee then allows this to become policy within the Township office which in turn allows the township to run efficiently and without bias.
- Consulting for Kane County and working with their Health department, Sheriff’s department, and 911 centers has given me a wide breath of understanding in the Health Services area which I am chairman in the Township.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?

Continue to automate functions in the Township through technology which will increase productivity and capabilities without increasing costs. Expand our network of business partners so we can provide more services to the community without spending tax dollars on the services. Just like our scholarship program, food and pet pantries, nurses closet, etc. Preserve efforts of work in concert with other governmental entities on projects which make a difference to their villages.

Why should voters trust you?

You can ask anyone at the township offices, or anyone who has interacted with me in my role as Health Services Chairman, for the best testimony that can be given about my dedication and integrity. In all things, I work to act with openness and in good faith with everyone, especially those with whom I do not see eye-to-eye and those who I have disagreements with politically. I will never lie to anyone or for anyone. In politics, your name is all you have. I won’t ruin mine.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the use of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

Put in place checks and balances for spending and projects. I was part of the board which put these financial check points in place. The prior board simply paid the invoices without first having approval from the board for non-budget items or having spending authorities. My philosophy is treat the taxpayers money as your own. Do not waste. Do not spend more than you have. Save for a rainy day.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

No. If elected I plan to serve the full term.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Be kind to people and treat people as you would like to be treated. To me it is all about respecting the people of the township and using their tax money in a responsible way which will enrich the community and help those in need. I am able to put aside partisan differences and work for the common good. I do not see someone that I disagree with as my enemy.

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

What I ultimately found during my tenure as a Township Trustee was the opportunity to help people in their lives and truly make a difference. It was very similar to the fulfillment found when I was coaching kids in football or wrestling and seeing them succeed, but on a much grander scale. Making a difference while doing the right thing is why I became a Trustee and needless to say, I would like to continue as a Trustee of Orland Township and remain “one of the good people to have gone into politics”.