2008 Executive Trustee Candidates

Below are the 2008 Executive Trustee Election candidates, in alphabetical order.

Gwen Henry, CPA, CPFIM

21 N. County Farm Road
Wheaton, IL 60187

Present Position — DuPage County Treasurer

Length of Service — DuPage County Treasurer, 2006 to present; DuPage County Forest Preserve Treasurer, 2004-2006; a series of elected positions that included finance, budgeting, and strategic planning from 1987 to current.

Duties — As the DuPage County Treasurer, I manage and invest the financial resources of the County with a budget of $493,406,160 and investments in excess of $400,000,000. In my role of Tax Collector, I oversee the billing of more than 333,000 parcels and the collection of a levy in excess of $2.2 billion and distribute the taxes collected to more than 390 taxing bodies. I also serve as Treasurer of the Emergency System Telephone Board.

Other Pertinent Information — I have been privileged to serve in a number of elected positions including DuPage County Board and Forest Preserve (1992-1994, 1996-2002); Mayor, City of Wheaton; Development Committee Chair; Finance Committee; Ethics Committee; Solid Waste Committee; Health & Human Services Committee; Planning & Development Committee; and DuPage County Water Commission, as well of a number of community leadership positions. I would be pleased to be able to share my experience and knowledge as a trustee of the IMRF Board.

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Timothy Sexton

255 E. Wilson Ave.
Lombard, IL 60148

Present Position — Director of Finance for the Village of Lombard

Length of Service — Director of Finance for Village of Lombard, with this employer since March 1999, in this position since July 2007.

Duties — Direct the operations of the Finance Department including budgeting, accounting, purchasing, risk management, licensing, customer service and information technology; act as Village Treasurer and Treasurer of Police and Firefighters’ Pension Funds; establish investment policies and practices; prepare annual budget and long-term financial forecasts; monitor revenue and expenditure trends. Total number of persons in department: 16; name and title of supervisor: David Hulseberg, Village Manager.

Other Pertinent Information — I have a Bachelors in Accounting, and am currently finishing my Masters in Public Administration, both from NIU. I have been a member of GFOA and IGFOA for over nine years. Last year, I took over as team leader for IGFOA’s annual Public Pension Institute training. I want to ensure that IMRF continues to maintain control of our own plan, without state involvement, and that we continue to maintain a prudent defined benefit plan with a 100% funding goal.

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William Stafford

1600 Dodge Ave.
Evanston, IL 60201

Present Position — Chief Financial Officer, Evanston Township High School District 202

Length of Service — Chief Financial Officer for Evanston Township High School District 202 since May 2006. Finance Director for the City of Evanston, 1998 to 2006; Finance Director for the Village of Streamwood, 1978 to 1980; Assistant Treasurer for the Village of Schaumburg, 1976 to 1978.

Duties — I am the Chief Financial Officer for Evanston Township High School District 202. I have responsibility for finance, safety, operations and maintenance, food service, information systems, budget and capital improvements. There are five directors who manage over 150 people who report to me. I also serve as the Secretary to the Board of Education.

Other Pertinent Information — I have worked in various Illinois local governments for over 25 years. I have served on numerous police and fire pension boards and am very familiar with pension funding, investing and management. I believe it is important to maintain IMRF’s independence from interference by the State of Illinois or other governmental entities. This independence has been the hallmark of the Fund’s solid financial health over the years and needs to be preserved in these challenging financial times.

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Robert W. Taylor

200 Rockland Road, P.O. Box 278
Lake Bluff, IL 60044

Present Position — Director of Finance, Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency

Length of Service — With the Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency and in this position January 2006 to present; Superintendent of Finance and Administration for the Waukegan Park District May 2001 to January 2006; Manager of Finance and Administration for the Waukegan Park District May 2000 to May 2001.

Duties — I am currently the Director of Finance of the Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency. It is an intergovernmental cooperative of nine municipalities representing 12 communities that provides drinking water to our constituency. I report to the Executive Director Darrell Blenniss, and am provided support from the Administrative Secretary.

Other Pertinent Information — I am a proud participant of IMRF. It would be a privilege to serve as a trustee and an opportunity to bring all of my diverse experience in public finance, school board service, and risk management to good purpose. The stability and security that it provides is one of the few sure things we can count on these days. I understand the need for diligent management and adherence to policies and hope my skills can enhance an already outstanding organization.

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