About Me

Thank you for taking a few minutes to visit my campaign website and learn about me and why I am running for re-election as your Lake County Forest Preserve District Commissioner and Lake County Board Member. 

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Experience & Leadership 

I have served you on the Lake County Forest Preserve / County Board since 2016. In my time as your board member I have focused on investing in and improving our beautiful Lake County Forest Preserves, reducing the County's reliance on property taxes by holding the County's portion of our property tax bills completely flat (3 years and counting) and diversifying our government's revenue sources, to reduce our reliance on property taxes. 

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Since July 4, I have tried to use my voice as a community representative to demand action and publicly call for a national and state ban on assault weapons. In media interviews and as your county board representative, I've worked to advance county policy statements that will add Lake County's voice to the efforts to ban common civilian access to these weapons of war. Another page on this website is dedicated to that issue and will go live shortly. This site is being updated and issue updates will be posted soon. 

 

I am Pro-Choice and I have been endorsed for re-election by Personal PAC, Illinois' Pro-Choice organization.

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Other endorsements: The Sierra Club, the American Federation of State County Municipal Employees (AFSCME Council 31) and I have earned the designation as a "Gun Sense Candidate" for supporting common sense firearm regulations by Moms Demand Action. 

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Some of the most challenging and rewarding efforts these past two years has been working with colleagues on the Board to ensure that we have supported people, organizations and communities that needed help throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. 

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Since 2018 and throughout the pandemic I have had the privilege to serve as the Committee Chairman for three very important committees on the County Board: 

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1. The Finance & Administration Committee, which makes policy recommendations to the Board, establishes budget policies and reviews and approves the County's operating and capital budgets

2. CARES Act Special Committee - the federal Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act provided Lake County more than $121 M in COVID aid and relief funding in 2019. CARES funds had an expiration date at the end of 2020 and we worked expeditiously (while meeting remotely) to prioritize investment decisions.  As Chairman, I led this committee's work to ensure that the County used these funds in a transparent and accountable way to help people, businesses and communities in need.  To read more about our work, visit Lake County Forward. 

3. The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Special Committee - ARPA provided Lake County with $135 M in funding to continue to support people and communities in need. The funding under ARPA has only been partially allocated and we have a longer timeline which to use it.  This summer we will be seeking public input through a survey and a series of public meetings to get feedback on APRA community investment priorities. 

 

Prior to being elected to the County Board, I served on The Highland Park City Council from 2011 to 2016. During my time on the City Council I worked very hard to make positive contributions to our Business and Economic Development policies and pushed efforts to improve transparency and accountability for our City and other local governments.  

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I am also very proud of my leadership role in our City's 2013 Ordinance Banning Assault Weapons.  The ban was preserved in 2015 by the United States Supreme Court, who declined to hear an appeal.  I felt compelled to do something, following the horrific massacre of children at Sandy Hook Elementary. It was at that moment that I helped move our City Council into a leadership role and take this challenging and important step for our community.  Our ordinance is now a model ordinance for other local governments across the US that are seeking to successfully ban assault weapons. My leadership on the assault weapons ban and a lifetime of commitment to gun-safety advocacy has previously earned me the endorsements of GPAC, Gun Violence Prevention PAC Illinois.

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Career & Education 

I work on healthcare policy at a healthcare consulting firm. I've worked on public policy for my entire career, in healthcare and in higher education.  I was raised in Northbrook and I am a graduate of Glenbrook North High School.  I hold a BA in Political Science from The University of Missouri-Columbia and earned an MS in Public Service Management.  

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Family

With my wife Mandi and our kids, Jane and Jonah, we have lived in Highland Park for 20+ years. I grew up here and have lived my whole live on the North Shore.  

 

Sobre mi

 

Gracias por tomarse unos minutos para visitar el sitio web de mi campaña y aprender sobre mí y por qué me postulo para la reelección para la Junta del Condado de Lake.

 

Experiencia de servicio público

Le he servido en la Junta del Condado de Lake desde 2016. En mi tiempo como miembro de la junta, me he centrado en invertir y mejorar nuestras hermosas Reservas Forestales del Condado de Lake, reduciendo la dependencia del Condado de los impuestos a la propiedad al retener la parte del Condado de nuestro impuesto a la propiedad. cuentas completamente planas (3 años y contando) y diversificando las fuentes de ingresos de nuestro gobierno, para reducir nuestra dependencia de los impuestos a la propiedad. El trabajo más desafiante y gratificante ha sido trabajar con colegas en la Junta para asegurarnos de haber apoyado a las personas, organizaciones y comunidades que necesitaban ayuda durante la pandemia de COVID-19.

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Trabajo en políticas de atención médica en una firma consultora nacional de atención médica. He trabajado profesionalmente en políticas públicas durante toda mi carrera, en atención médica y en políticas de educación superior.

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Educación familiar

Con mi esposa Mandi y nuestros hijos, Jane y Jonah, hemos vivido en Highland Park durante 20 años. Ambos son graduados de Highland Park High School y ahora estudian en la Universidad de Illinois. Crecí aquí y he vivido toda mi vida en North Shore. Me crié en Northbrook y me gradué de la escuela secundaria Glenbrook North. Obtuve un BA en Ciencias Políticas de la Universidad de Missouri-Columbia y obtuve una Maestría en Administración de Servicios Públicos de DePaul University.

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