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A healthy economy is important to our quality of life. Employment opportunities allow everyone to meet the needs of their families, and keeping jobs in the County cuts down on travel times. Increasing the tax base helps our schools and decreases the burden on homeowners. I currently serve on the Board of Governors for Lake County Partners, the economic development arm of the County. In that role, I work with municipalities and Lake County corporations to retain existing and bring new jobs to the County. We have achieved some successes in recent years, but we need to do more.
Promises Kept
- Voted in support of the FedEx project in Grayslake which will bring hundreds of new jobs to central Lake County.
- Voted for the Cornerstone Development Plan in Grayslake which will bring jobs and commercial development to the Grayslake area in the years ahead.
- Supported the use of incentives when they result in a positive benefit to the community in new jobs and increased tax base, but only if they also demonstrate a financial benefit to our schools and other taxing bodies.
- Served as a Director on the Lake County Partners Board, where my economic development background enables me to engage in strategic planning for business retention and attraction.
As a former economic development professional, I know what it takes to recruit and retain businesses. Going forward, I will continue my work with Lake County Partners in support of innovative approaches to bring more jobs to Lake County.
One of the key issues affecting our quality of life in Lake County is traffic congestion, and central Lake County is particularly hard hit. In the past three years, I have supported several key road projects including the proposed Route 120 Bypass and the expansion of Route 21. These projects will bring great benefit to our part of the County. When the Board adopted a resolution supporting the Route 53 extension, I offered a successful amendment that added language solidifying the County's position that any proposed Route 53 project would not only solve the traffic problems in the proposed corridor, but also minimize impact on the environment, include a transit component, and operate effectively with the proposed Route 120 Boulevard Bypass.
Promises Kept
- Voted for allocation of $21M for the widening of Route 21.
- Voted in support of the Boulevard option for the proposed Route 120 bypass.
- Successfully amended a County Board Resolution supporting Route 53, adding language highlighting environmental concerns and supporting addition of a transit component to the roadway.
- Voted in favor of the widening of Washington Street through Grayslake and improvements to the railroad crossing.
Looking ahead, I will continue to push for an acceptable solution in the Route 53 and Route 120 Corridors - a solution that will provide traffic relief, while minimizing impact on the environment.
My commitment to the environment underlies everything I do. In the past three years, I brought a strong environmental focus to my work on the County Board, supporting increased recycling, reasonable alternative energy regulations, and sustainable approaches to County operations.
Promises Kept
- Led the fight against including incineration in the County-s 2009 Solid Waste Plan, instead shifting the focus to increasing recycling.
- Served on the SWALCO Recycling Task Force, created to develop a plan to increase Lake County's recycling rate from 38% to 60%.
- Voted in support of wind energy regulations that will allow reasonably sized turbines to be installed in our community to benefit residents and businesses alike.
- Served as a member of the College of Lake County's Community Partners for Sustainability, where I work with public and private entities throughout Lake County to identify partnerships that will promote sustainability.
- Voted for continued acquisition of lands by the Forest Preserve, utilizing the funds approved by the voters in the 2008 referendum.
- Monitored the status of Countryside Landfill since November 2009, when significant odor issues first surfaced. Provided communication to affected residents and voiced strong support for any and all enforcement actions available to the County and SWALCO.
Opposed the Landfill's request to the IEPA for increased air emissions.
Going forward, I will continue to be a strong voice for the environment in my work at the County and Forest Preserve. I will focus on implementation of the Recycling Task Force recommendations and other green initiatives, including support for local sustainable food systems.
While the primary responsibility for property assessment lies with the 18 townships in Lake County, the County Assessor's office plays a key role. During the past three years on the County Board, I have focused on the appeal process, calling for and participating in an Advisory Council that looked at the Board of Review processes. I also have consistently supported fiscally conservative policies to control spending, balance the budgets, and ensure tax rates remain as low as possible.
Promises Kept
- Called for creation of, and served on, an Advisory Council to look at the Board of Review procedures, resulting in significant changes to ensure a smoother appeal process for the taxpayer.
- Worked closely with the Citizens Action Project to promote better understanding of the assessment and appeal processes.
- Sponsored a Property Tax Information Meeting, in conjunction with fellow Board Members.
- Voted for balanced budgets with significant reductions in spending at both the County and the Forest Preserve, maintaining our tax rates as low as possible.
- Refused a raise voted on by Members prior to my joining the Board and donated the amount of the raise back to the County.
- Served as Vice-Chair of the Forest Preserve Finance Committee, where I have been a strong voice for fiscally conservative policies.
Going forward I will continue to look for improvements to the assessment and appeal processes and I will hold the line on spending at the County and the Forest Preserve.
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