Shundar Lin: Candidate for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, 6-Year Term


Video: Shundar Lin tells voters about his platform. Learn more about Candidate Free Time.

About this candidate

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Name: Shundar Lin
DOB: July 24, 1935
Residence: Chicago
Family: Married, one son and one daughter; and five grand children
Occupation: Retired sanitary engineer, Professional Scientist Emeritus
Political Experience: Board member of the Illinois Pollution Control Board

About this office

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) is governed by a nine-member board elected at-large with three commissioners elected every two years. On Nov. 8, some candidates will run for six-year terms, while others will run for a term lasting two years.

MWRD treats water collected by sanitary and stormwater sewers in most of Cook County. It also serves as the Stormwater Management Utility for Cook County. Its mission is to protect the health and safety of citizens and area waterways.

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Candidate Q&A

What is your vision for this office?

As a Commissioner, I will focus on:

  • Keeping our water clean, better than the EPA’s effluent limits
  • Promoting advanced technologies for wastewater treatment, including the use of autonomous technology to patrol our waters
  • Improving our region’s management of storm water
  • Holding the District with a balanced budget
  • Ending cronyism and ensuring a fair bidding process for all engineering projects
  • Giving public education about the District’s role in the protection of our water and lands

What is the most pressing issue facing constituents, and how can you help address it?

For last ten month during my campaign, I discovered that most of Cook County voters do not know what is Metropolitan Water Reclamation District” of Greater

Chicago. They think it is “the (drinking) water company.”

They should know it is used be called “Sanitary District.” The word Sanitary was replaced by Water Reclamation was for decades by few national large wastewater treatment plants.

If I am elected, I will uses office and personal times to deliver talks to students, and public groups, etc. The talks will serve public education about the MWRD and concepts of environmental protection. I will make more transparency of the MWRD.

Candidate Statement

I am Dr. Shundar Lin and running for Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. I am extremely qualified to serve as Commissioner. I hold a Ph.D. in Sanitary Engineering, and have spent a career as a water scientist for the State Water Survey, and I served on the Illinois Pollution Control Board. I have been one of the world’s leading water and wastewater scientists for more than 50 years. I have published more than 100 papers on water and wastewater, as well as three books. As a Commissioner, I will focus on:

1. Promoting advanced technologies for wastewater treatment.

2. Keeping our water clean, including the use of autonomous technology to patrol our waterways.

3. Improving our region’s management of storm water.

4. Closely watching the District’s budget & passing a balanced budget

5. Ensuring a fair bidding process for all engineering projects

6. Conducting public education about the District’s role in the protection of our water and lands

I live in Chicago with my wife, my daughter, and three grandchildren. I am running to give my family and all people in Cook County clean water and good environment. Thank you.

About Candidate Free Time

WTTW’s 2018 Voters’ Guide to the General Election is an online resource designed to inform voters about the candidates running for office in the Nov. 6 election.

Candidates were given two minutes to tell voters where they stand on the issues, why they feel they are best qualified and what they intend to do if elected or re-elected. The messages were recorded at the WTTW studios at no cost to the candidates.

The Voters’ Guide is an online version of Candidate Free Time, pioneered by WTTW in the 1992 race for U.S. Senate. This year’s Candidate Free Time is produced with and underwritten in part by the League of Women Voters of Cook County.

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