About the Candidate
Name: Troy Antonio Hernandez
DOB: 1981
Occupation: Executive Architect/Data Scientist, IBM
Political Experience: Pilsen Academy Local School Council 2014-2018
Website: TroyHernandez.com
Candidate Statement
My name is Troy Hernandez and I’m one of the Green Party candidates for Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, or MWRD.
I’ve lived in the Chicagoland area my entire life. I have degrees from UIC in mathematics, philosophy, and operations research. In 2013 I earned my PhD in statistics. For the last 6 years I’ve worked in Chicago’s tech industry as a data scientist and architect. I currently work for IBM. I don’t need this job, but to whom much has been given, much is required.
I served as an AI mentor in 2017 for the NASA Frontier Development Lab using AI to help defend the planet from solar flares and asteroids. I continue to serve on their AI Technical Committee.
I served on the Pilsen Academy Local School Council for 4 years and worked tirelessly to replace an incompetent principal.
For the last 9 years I’ve volunteered my time doing environmental justice work in Pilsen.
We’re currently working on a low-cost Internet-of-Things solution to not only reduce our neighbors’ electricity bills and the associated greenhouse gas emissions, but to also keep them warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
We previously handed out 300 lead water filters to families affected by water meter installations and water main replacements. Now, with the MWRD I hope to address some of the challenges with our waste water.
As I’ve been saying since before it became fashionable, the institutional corruption in Cook County is a tax on all of us who live here. The average Cook County resident has to pay a tax every time an interested party makes a campaign contribution to one of our commissioners.
Green Party research showed that the MWRD Democrats gave campaign donors $722 million in contracts. Eliminating these conflicts of interest could save every tax payer in Cook County money.
Because of these scandals, the Green Party called for an MWRD inspector general. 2 weeks ago that inspector general alleged that 4 of our commissioners used their official email accounts, “to solicit MWRD employees for political purposes.” Our tax dollars are literally financing my opponents’ campaigns.
If you’re tired of paying Cook County corruption taxes, then vote for me, Troy Hernandez, for MWRD Commissioner.
Candidate Q&A
Why are you running?
I’m running for office because the 20+ years of one-party rule by the Democrats of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District must end. There is an endless stream of stories about corruption at this agency and, with an annual budget of over one billion dollars, the costs of this corruption are felt by every taxpayer in Cook County money.
In addition to serving as a watchdog for our tax dollars, I will serve as the “numbers guy” on the board of commissioners. Every good team needs a statistician to assist with the design, analysis, and interpretation of the kind of technical work done at the MWRD. I earned my PhD in statistics from UIC in 2013. I can do this work for the MWRD.
“To whom much has been given, much is required.”
I’m running as the Green Party nominee because I blew the whistle on documented racism within the Democratic Party. As we saw with the recent sexual harassment lawsuit in Speaker Madigan’s office, anyone with the audacity to try and hold the Democratic Party to minimally professional standards is blacklisted.
I was given the opportunity to develop my technical skills through grants and scholarships from the state and federal government. This has allowed me to build a life that would have otherwise not been possible. I consider it an honor and an obligation to at least attempt to serve the people of the Chicagoland area. I don’t need the permission of the racist and sexist Democratic Party to do that.
What is your vision for this office?
My vision for this office is to serve as a watchdog of the purse-strings for the MWRD. Green Party research showed that the MWRD Democrats gave campaign donors 722 million dollars in contracts. Eliminating these conflicts of interest could save every tax payer in Cook County money. As a statistician I have the numeracy required to do this.
As an expert on data and artificial intelligence, I will bring my technical skills to bear on issues within the MWRD. As commissioner, I will connect the dots between flooding and necessary infrastructure improvements.
As a community activist, I was among the first in Chicago to campaign against the disturbance of lead service lines in our homes. It was politically inconvenient for the Democrats in power to hear. With the MWRD, I won’t be afraid to address the politically inconvenient challenges with our waste water.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing your constituents and how do you plan on addressing it?
It’s different for different groups of constituents.
Many communities need help with flooding in their homes and neighborhoods. Outdoor enthusiasts want a cleaner river to paddle or fish in. Many homeowners need relief on their property taxes.
I will address these issues through deep analyses of data, interpretation, and finally by taking action through budgeting. If we eliminate the waste in our bureaucracy, we’ll have more money to eliminate the waste in our sewers and rivers.
