--- Stan Zoller
Candidate's name:
Eric Smith
Candidate for:
Village Board Trustee
How long have you lived in Buffalo Grove?
30 years
Please provide brief background information.
I moved to Buffalo Grove in 1988. I
established my chiropractic practice here and immediately joined the B.G.
Chamber of Commerce and B.G. Rotary Club. I have been a member of both
organizations since then and have served on the Board of Directors for each,
including as President. My wife Judie and I raised our three children here. My
daughter, Alexis, and her husband are raising one of my grandchildren in B.G.
Alexis currently serves on the Commission for Residents with Disabilities.
Have you served on a village committee or
commission before? If yes, which one and how long did you serve?
I have served on many Village
committees and commissions. I served on the Board of Health, Appearance
Commission, Plan Commission, and as Chairman of the Planning and Zoning
Commission. I also served on the Lake Cook Corridor Plan steering committee and
the Prairie View Station Plan steering committee. Up until my appointment as
Trustee, I have served on these various commission during the entire time I
have been a resident of Buffalo Grove.
What other civic activities, if any, have you
been involved with?
I have been a 30-year member and
former President of the Buffalo Grove Chamber of Commerce. I have been a 30-year
member and former President of the Buffalo Grove Rotary Club. I am a former
volunteer basketball coach in the Buffalo Grove Park District. I have also
served on the Jewish Community Center Board of Directors.
Why are you running for a Village Board
position?
I am running to retain my current
seat on the Village Board because I love this community and I enjoy serving. I
am running because I have the experience and qualifications necessary to do the
job. I am able to listen to all sides of an issue without predetermined
opinion. I am analytical and I research and weigh all information presented to
the Board before making a thoughtful decision which will best serve all
residents of our Village. I have the experience, leadership, knowledge, and
vision necessary to continue to be a successful Trustee.
In general, what do you see as the most pressing
issues facing Buffalo Grove?
Our aging infrastructure, including
roads, water mains, and Village owned buildings, need to be addressed over the
next few years. This ties into keeping our first-rate services at a high level
while continuing to keep the Village's portion of the overall tax bill at a
relatively low level. We also need to continue attracting and retaining new
businesses in our commercial centers, as well as our industrial district.
There has been
considerable discussion for years about economic development in the village.
What kind of economic development (retail,
commercial, industrial) do you think should be a priority and why?
We should continue to ensure that
our industrial district remains at a 95% occupancy rate. The revenue derived
from this district is rarely mentioned and under-appreciated. We should also
continue to implement the Lake Cook Corridor Plan. We are already starting to
see the benefits of this Plan with the redevelopment of the Northwest Community
Healthcare property. And of course, the Village should continue to facilitate
discussions between potential buyers and owners of the Town Center, Chase
Plaza, and Rohrman properties.
Which business development plan do you think
should be a priority? Lake-Cook Road corridor, Dundee Road, Milwaukee Avenue or
the Prairie View concept?
These are all priorities and are all
being addressed on a daily basis by our Economic Development Director, his
staff, and the current Board of Trustees. We must continue to try to facilitate
deals, attract developers, and retain businesses in all of these areas.
How do you think the village should encourage
redevelopment of existing retail areas that are struggling?
The Village should continue to
facilitate and be proactive in bringing potential buyers and sellers together
to redevelop distressed retail areas. We also need to continue to encourage
owners to redevelop their properties. We are also already seeing such
redevelopments about to take place at Cambridge Commons and at the Northwest
Community Healthcare sites.
Should the village limit development to preserve
green space?
Green space, open space, and areas
where people can gather to shop, have a meal, or just relax are very important.
We should continue to try to incorporate such spaces throughout the Village
where possible.
Some of our volunteer groups (commissions,
committees) have seen shrinking membership. What would you do to engage the
community on a broader scale? What would you do to encourage broader
demographic participation?
Our Village is filled with talented,
caring, and dedicated individuals. This is evidenced by the increase in civic
engagement and community involvement. We are lucky to have numerous volunteer
commissions that are often unknown to many residents and are under-represented
by the young, diverse members of our community. I believe we can strengthen our
sense of community, encourage social involvement, and provide a well-rounded
sense of community to our residents by increasing the advertising, recruiting,
and funding support of our community volunteer commissions and programs.
There is a proposal to add a "Community
Engagement Director" to the village staff. Do you think it is needed?
Explain why or why not.
The survey that was conducted by
many residents indicates a weakness in community engagement and communication
on the part of the Village. Therefore, the concept of this job is a good one. I
look forward to the development of a complete and thorough proposal that
outlines a job description and qualifications of this position; however, until
that is provided, I am unable to justify the expense for our taxpayers.
Do you think the Village communicates well with
residents? If not, how can it be improved?
We have made great strides in the
last year to improve our communication with residents. Our new updated website
rollout has been received well. I believe we can leverage this updated platform
to increase communication and transparency for residents. We can also increase
involvement of residents in our diverse array of volunteer commissions
utilizing the new website.
Final thoughts -- Add any information or
comments about your candidacy.
I am a 30-year Buffalo Grove
Rotarian and have always lived by Rotary's motto "Service above
Self." I know firsthand the time and commitment necessary to be an
effective Trustee and am willing and able to continue to put in the time and
effort to effectively serve the residents of our community.
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