Why I am Running For Village Trustee

My wife and I chose to raise our two school-age children in Glenview. I am proud of the community we live in and it is important to me to do my part in making this Village even better. Over the past several years, I have seen the unfortunate erosion of trust – up close. I have also learned that the best way to ensure progress is to foster communication. During my time working with my neighbors on issues related to development and safety, I have come to appreciate the important role that Trustees play in the community. At the same time, I have seen how, with small improvements, we can ensure that Glenview’s municipal processes can be more accessible and friendly to the average resident. You should not have to maintain a law degree or have experience as an engineer to navigate some of our processes. I am direct, open, and as trustee, pledge to ensure that everyone’s position is considered in a thoughtful way.

My biggest priority is rebuilding trust. A lot of us will talk about transparency as if it’s a destination. It’s not. It’s a process. We get there by rebuilding trust in our leadership. The second priority is focusing on accessibility. I have sat in Village Hall, confused and anxious. We must accept that some people only come to board or commission meetings when there is an issue that impacts them. We must make navigating that process less daunting. My third priority is to go out into the community and find and recruit innovative and diverse individuals to serve on our current commissions. We have to think about different ways to engage with residents. We have to make it easier to consume information. We have to be proactive on issues we know will be important.

Overarching above all these priorities is assessing the damage to our local businesses and residents due to the aftermath of Covid 19. We still do not know exactly what that impact will be – but I suspect that it will lead to more vacancies and struggles for more businesses and families. We must consider what role the Village of Glenview can have and we should be working with groups like Friends of Downtown and the Chamber of Commerce to help our community thrive. We need to revitalize areas like our downtown - not with immense density, but with thoughtful modifications aimed at creating desirable destinations for residents of all over.

Campaigning this year has allowed me to connect with people from all over Glenview. It has taught me that this is a vibrant, diverse and thoughtful community. I commit to working hard for all residents of Glenview. Please support my candidacy for Village Trustee.