Meet the Candidate: Soojae Lee

Editor's note --This is the third in a series of profiles of candidates for Buffalo Grove Village Board positions.  Candidates for Village Trustee will be featured first followed by candidates for Village President. All candidates received the same questionnaire.  Their answers appear verbatim without any added editorial comments or interpretation. This is done so readers can read direct answers from each candidate.  Profiles will be posted in alphabetical order.
  --- Stan Zoller

Candidate's name:

Soojae Lee

Candidate for: 

Village Board Trustee

How long have you lived in Buffalo Grove? 

5 years

Please provide brief background information. 

I am a private practice attorney with CPA and MBA background. Married to Judy and a father of three children.

Have you served on a village committee or commission before? If yes, which one and how long did you serve? 

No.

What other civic activities, if any, have you been involved with? 

I have served as a vice president of the Korean American Association of Chicago and a lay leader of Lakeview Covenant Church.

Why are you running for a Village Board position? 

I decided to run for the trustee position to ensure Buffalo Grove is moving in the right direction by making sound financial and policy decisions for the residents, including my family and me. I am raising three young children with my wife and want Buffalo Grove to be the first-class village in the northern suburb.

In general, what do you see as the most pressing issues facing Buffalo Grove? 

Buffalo Grove is a diverse and vibrant community that needs economic redevelopment and strategic long-term planning. The surrounding villages and cities are redeveloping and Buffalo Grove cannot fall behind. We need to provide successful retail, dining and entertainment venues for the families of Buffalo Grove and I am in support of redevelopment that includes downtown Buffalo Grove.

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? 

In my opinion, the economic development encompassing retail, dining and entertainment venues is a priority. The median income in Buffalo Grove is over $100,000.00 and we should give Buffalo Grove residents an opportunity to enjoy various retail, dining and entertainment options in Buffalo Grove rather than in other surrounding villages. The increase in sales tax revenue will lessen the additional property tax burden on residents.

Which business development plan do you think should be a priority? Lake-Cook Road corridor, Dundee Road, Milwaukee Avenue or the Prairie View concept? 

The business development plan for Lake-Cook corridor is a top priority because this is the heart of Buffalo Grove where Cook County and Lake County come together. While the other three options listed are certainly important and must be considered, the Lake-Cook corridor development will have much more impact.

How do you think the village should encourage redevelopment of existing retail areas that are struggling? 

The village should encourage the owners of these properties and business owners to redevelop by providing reasonable tax incentives and business friendly regulations.

Should the village limit development to preserve green space? 

Unless the village is nearing threshold for over-development of green space, the village should carefully consider all development proposals that will benefit the village.

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? 

First, we need to evaluate these commissions and committees for their purposes and determine the reasons for the decline in membership. Second, we need to empower residents who serve in these volunteer groups. Third, we should encourage broader participation by encouraging younger residents, especially high school students, to get involved with the village business matters.

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. 

I do not think we need a separate Community Engagement Director to the village staff. I believe the community engagement responsibility rests on all elected officials and the village staff.

Do you think the Village communicates well with residents? If not, how can it be improved? 

I don’t see any particular problem with the village’s communication with residents. However, providing convenient options for residents to connect with the village should be explored.

Final thoughts -- Add any information or comments about your candidacy. 

Along with my background, as the only Asian-American candidate, I will bring diversity and fresh perspective to the Board and represent the growing Asian-American population in Buffalo Grove.

Meet the Candidate: Tim Kobler

Editor's note --This is the second in a series of profiles of candidates for Buffalo Grove Village Board positions.  Candidates for Village Trustee will be featured first followed by candidates for Village President. All candidates received the same questionnaire.  Their answers appear verbatim without any added editorial comments or interpretation. This is done so readers can read direct answers from each candidate.  Profiles will be posted in alphabetical order.
  --- Stan Zoller

Candidate's name 

Tim Kobler

Candidate for:

Village Board Trustee

How long have you lived in Buffalo Grove? 

18 years

Please provide brief background information. 

My wife Chrissy and I have lived in Buffalo Grove for 18 years and are raising our two sons who attend Stevenson High School and Twin Groves Middle School. We are also members of Saint Mary Parish in Buffalo Grove. I have volunteered as a youth soccer coach for the park district for seven years. I am currently a police officer serving with my suburban police department for over 20 years. During the course of my law enforcement career I have served as a Detective, Field Training Officer, and now a Sergeant. I have been honored to receive the Award of Valor from the 100 Club of DuPage County, the Law Enforcement Award from the Illinois State Bar Association and received three Meritorious Service Awards for going above and beyond the call of duty.

Have you served on a village committee or commission before? If yes, which one and how long did you serve? 

I have not served on any committee or commission within the Village of Buffalo Grove. However, I am a certified pension trustee and have served as a pension trustee for over 10 years. I am currently the Vice-President of a police pension fund governed under Article 3 of the Illinois Pension Code. The fund is over $20 million and is over 70% funded. I also serve as the Chairman of the Board for the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council. A law enforcement union representing over 12,000 professionals who work in the criminal justice field throughout the State. Our members are Municipal Police Officers, County Sheriff’s Deputies, University Police Officers, County Correctional Officers, Court Security Officers, Probation Officers, 911 Telecommunicators, Records Personnel, and other Support Staff. I am an active member of the Fraternal Order of Police and serve as a part of the Executive Board for the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge. The Fraternal Order of Police, founded in 1915, is the largest organization of sworn law-enforcement officers in the United States. With a proud tradition of officers representing Officers, the Fraternal Order of Police is the most respected and most recognize police organization in the country. The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge, chartered in 1963, is the second largest State Lodge, proudly representing more than 32,000 active duty and retired police officer‘s - more than 10% of all Fraternal Order of Police members nationwide.

What other civic activities, if any, have you been involved with? 

I have volunteered as a youth soccer coach for the park district for seven years. While coaching, I was awarded the Fred Bernstein Memorial Coaches Award recognizing outstanding service, leadership, dedication, and fairness to all in making a difference in the lives of the youths of Buffalo Grove. The last 11 years I have participated and helped plan an annual St. Baldrick’s event. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer powered charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long, healthy lives. I am proud that over the past 10 years this annual event has raised approximately $900,000 for children’s cancer research.

Why are you running for a Village Board position? 

Buffalo Grove is a great place to live. It is great because it’s made up of many things when put together, such as its parks, schools, and along with its diversity it is one of the best communities to live in and raise a family. I am running for Trustee to protect those things such as our green spaces. Through smart growth and redevelopment of parts of the Village we will be able to continue to live a wonderful community.

In general, what do you see as the most pressing issues facing Buffalo Grove? 

I see the most pressing issue would be the redevelopment of the town center along with Dundee Road.

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? 

Out of the three I think retail development should take first priority. Followed by commercial and then industrial. Currently our industrial area is doing well and can help spur development in our commercial and retail areas. If we prioritize retail not only will we provide opportunities for our residents to shop, dining, and entertainment but also those who work in the Village everyday as well. With strong retail areas businesses will want to locate to Buffalo Grove for the easily accessible retail to offer their employees.

Which business development plan do you think should be a priority? Lake-Cook Road corridor, Dundee Road, Milwaukee Avenue or the Prairie View concept? 

Having to pick one I would make Prairie View concept the priority as it seems to have willing partners. Having said that, I do believe that we have the capability to and should be doing more than just one of these projects at a time.

How do you think the village should encourage redevelopment of existing retail areas that are struggling? 

I think the village can encourage redevelopment of existing retail areas by assisting in creating partnerships with the current owners and those who wish to redevelop the property.

Should the village limit development to preserve green space? 

Yes, the village should limit development to preserve green spaces. Many residents have located to Buffalo Grove due to the schools, public safety, and the many great green spaces the village has to offer.

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? 

In today’s world it is difficult to find extra time. I would encourage our residents to participate by explaining the importance of the work as well as the time commitment. One of Buffalo Grove’s greatest assets is its diversity. As Trustee I would make every attempt to engage as many residents as possible to participate in their local government.

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. 

I think communication with the residents is very important and I am open to working with the staff and the board to figure out the most efficient way to do so.

Do you think the Village communicates well with residents? If not, how can it be improved? 

The village does well communicating with the residence in certain area. A complete review should be done to ensure that we are maximizing our abilities.

Final thoughts -- Add any information or comments about your candidacy. 

My priorities will be smart development projects that will revitalize our community and broaden our tax base, protect our green spaces against misguided development that will increase traffic congestion and increase risk of flooding, and keeping our community safe by maintaining Buffalo Groves, world class police and fire services.

Meet the candidate: Rachel Hausman Masse

Editor's note --This is the first in a series of profiles of candidates for Buffalo Grove Village Board positions.  Candidates for Village Trustee will be featured first followed by candidates for Village President. All candidates received the same questionnaire.  Their answers appear verbatim without any added editorial comments or interpretation. This is done so readers can read direct answers from each candidate.  Profiles will be posted in alphabetical order.
  --- Stan Zoller

Candidate's name:

Rachel Hausman Masse

Candidate for:

Village Board Trustee

How long have you lived in Buffalo Grove?

32 years

Please provide brief background information.

I was raised in Buffalo Grove, I went to Willow, Ivy Hall, Twin and SHS class of 2004. I've worked in Real Estate at a local Buffalo Grove office for the last ten years. My husband and I own a home in Buffalo Grove and he is a science teacher at Twin Groves Middle School.

Have you served on a village committee or commission before? If yes, which one and how long did you serve?

No.

What other civic activities, if any, have you been involved with?

I'm involved with JCC parent-family mitzvah projects where money is raised and donated to various charities.

Why are you running for a Village Board position?

I am running for village trustee because I have decided to raise my family in Buffalo Grove and want to help continue to grow the community and protect our green spaces.

In general, what do you see as the most pressing issues facing Buffalo Grove? 

We need to redevelop town center and the many vacant retail spaces throughout Buffalo Grove. Additionally, our community has wonderful green spaces that need to be properly preserved and protected.

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?

Retail needs to be a priority because we need to start attracting more businesses and restaurants to help contribute to lower the tax burden on our residents, as well as to provide a space for community members to use within our own city limits.

Which business development plan do you think should be a priority? Lake-Cook Road corridor, Dundee Road, Milwaukee Avenue or the Prairie View concept?

The Lake Cook corridor should be a priority.

How do you think the village should encourage redevelopment of existing retail areas that are struggling?

I think the village can encourage redevelopment by creating partnerships with the current owners and teaming with fellow trustees to develop an incentivized plan to promote community growth.

Should the village limit development to preserve green space?

Yes, the village should protect green spaces, specifically the Buffalo Grove Golf Course and all of its public parks.

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?

The community needs to be communicating better a whole by utilizing more social media, and by targeting a younger audience within the community. With a disconnected community, we need to listen to the needs of our diverse demographic to establish community events that everyone can connect with.

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.

It is needed to ensure the voices of our people are represented in cultural and social engagements. It would be prudent for our village to make sure this position is filled by someone who is competent in cultural diversity and can communicate the needs of our community back to the village.

Do you think the Village communicates well with residents? If not, how can it be improved?

No. Our village needs to engage with the people who live here and start using communication outlets that reach more residents in a modern, more effective manner.

Final thoughts -- Add any information or comments about your candidacy.

I think our village would benefit with me as a trustee because I work with hundreds of families and residents on a daily basis, and also have an active young family in Buffalo Grove. I grew up in this town and want to see it prosper and grow to attract more families and Stevenson alumni to live here again.

A recipe filled with love, memories and charity

Melissa Passman was only five years old when her grandmother died. But every time the 12-year-old seventh grader fires up the oven to bake, the aromas that fill the kitchen form an indelible bond between the two.

Even though most of Melissa’s memories about her grandmother, Elaine Passman, may be centered around visiting her in a nursing home, it’s Elaine’s legacy as a gourmet cook that has left an impact on Melissa. So much so that Melissa has become an ardent cook who loves to bake. She also loves charity.

So, when she had to select a mitzvah project as part of her bar mitzvah training at  Temple Chi, Melissa decided to combine her love of baking with her grandmother’s legacy by arranging “Melissa’s Charity Bake off.”

The event, set from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, 530 Bernard Drive, will raise money for Multiple Sclerosis, the very illness that took her grandmother’s life at age 67.

Beyond her grandmother’s legacy, Melissa thought a bake-off  would be a “cool idea” because she likes cooking.   It’s a simple contest; participants, who must be under 18, pay $10 to enter. All the money raised at the event will be donated to Multiple Sclerosis.  The top winners will receive trophies. Entries will be judged by four judges, who happen to be family members and friends.  That, however, is typical of the support she has been getting. 

Melissa says more than 15 people have entered, which she says is “rewarding”  because “people are going to do it.” To no surprise, Melissa has had support from her parents, Jon and Tracy Passman, who have helped promote the event. Jon has posted information on Facebook and also arranged for Image Specialties of Glenview to donate the trophies for the winners.

Melissa has also had support at  Aptakisic Junior High school, which has allowed her post flyers about the event. And apparently it has helped because she says her friends think “it’s a cool idea.”

Besides meeting a mitzvah requirement Melissa says she has found that “planning an event is a lot of work,” with the hardest thing to do is finding people to cook. As of earlier this week, Melissa said  15 people have already entered, which she says is “rewarding”  because “people are going to do it.”

Melissa did not have a goal for entries, saying “I just wanted to see how many people would enter.”

So, it looks like she has quite a recipe – memories, charity and a sense of community.

Melissa’s Charity Bake-off is from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. this Sunday, Feb. 10, at the Alcott Center, 530 Bernard Drive.  Registration is limited to children under 18. Entry fee is $10.  For details, email melissasbakeoff@gmail.com.

Civic engagement: A good idea and even better practice

Whether she meant to or not, Village Board President Beverly Sussman tossed a subtle barb to many of the nine candidates running for the three trustee spots in the April election.

Sussman, who routinely follows her script for running a meeting, broke the mold at the Jan. 7  Committee of Whole (COW) meeting when she welcomed people who were at the meeting “for the first time” and offered them an explanation as to how a COW meeting works.

Interesting timing.

Interesting because in attendance at the meeting were candidates Adam Moodhe, Carolyn Pinta, Gregory Pike Jr. and Soojae Lee. And while none voiced a comment about items on the agenda, let alone take notes, their presence marked, one would think, an interest in what the Village Board is doing.

Which begs a question – what took them so long?

Outside of Moodhe, who has attended Village Board meetings with some degree of regularity for the past decade, few of the trustee candidates have. Even Village President candidate Mike Terson has not had a strong presence since leaving the board in 2015.

It is a bit ironic that village staff wants to hire a community engagement manager when many of the people running for the Board are not actively engaged in the village. Outside of the incumbents, Eric Smith and Dave Weidenfeld, only trustee candidates, Larry Steingold and Adam Moodhe have held village posts. Steingold served on the Zoning Board of Appeals, while Moodhe has been active in the community in a variety of ways including serving on the 15 years on Buffalo Grove days, 13 years on emergency management agency and four years on the Planning and Zoning Commission.

To be fair, this doesn’t mean that Moodhe or Steingold are preferred candidates, nor does it mean candidates who have attended meetings will be effective trustees. It does, however, show an interest in being engaged in the village in some way.

Candidates running for a village post are hopefully running because they have a genuine interest in the village and not because they’re upset with a previous Board decision. Hopefully, candidates are not running for the Board because of a special interest or personal notoriety.

While serving their interest is admirable, the reality is the village is not a student council. The village is a business with an $78 million budget. Popularity may get some folks elected, but it doesn’t mean they are well versed in Village operations.

Some folks may say that you don’t need to attend Village Board meetings to know what’s going on as you can always watch them on the community access channel. However, the Committee of the Whole meetings are not broadcast, which means discussions and presentations by staff, consultants and vendors cannot be viewed from the comfort of home.

Cynics, some of whom may say the village spends too much frivolous money may want COW meetings broadcast. That would be one solution. However, if someone is content to just watch Village Board meetings on TV, they’re missing an opportunity to interact with residents who may attend meetings to air a grievance about an issue in the village.

Meeting and talking with constituents are paramount to being an effective public servant. If interactions limited to a single neighborhood, supporters of an event, a candidate falls short when it comes to being open minded and representing the entire community.

If a resident is interested in being appointed to a village commission or running for an elected post, it seems as though the best thing to do is witness village operations first hand and get involved.

Civic engagement is a good idea -- it’s an even better practice.

Civics Forum a lesson for more than just students

With the November 2018 mid-term elections a week away, much has been written about the importance of voting. Not only in this election, but any election.

Students from Buffalo Grove and Stevenson high schools
participate in the Oct. 22 Civics Forum

This is not breaking news.

However, an added twist in recent years has been the importance of civic engagement.  The message from major civic-minded foundations, government watchdog organizations and community advocacy organizations or the village clerk is simple – civic engagement is important.

Buffalo Grove’s Village Clerk, Janet Sirabian, is not someone who jumped on the band wagon.  In fact, Sirabian helped get the band wagon rolling years ago when she started coordinating the village’s annual Civics Forum.

The event includes students from Buffalo Grove and Stevenson high schools who, for a day, are involved in village activities that culminate with a Village Board meeting run by the students.

The Forum, held last Monday, gave students a chance to present village projects to the full board, made up of the students, with support from staff, also portrayed by students.

Students received information from village departments.  The proposals included a volunteerism video, community development manufacturing expo, purchase of 10-year smoke detectors, a bench and picnic table for the police department, purchase of a nitrogen generator tire-filling system, public workspace at village hall, and a daily endorphin for village employees.

Students had the day to study and analyze each proposal before presenting  -- and defending – them to the Board at the meeting.

What’s refreshing to note is that the students did what village staff and village officials do (or are supposed to do); and that is look at projects that impact the village. The students volunteered to participate in the Forum so they can experience first hand how government works and the importance of being involved in the civic process.

Which takes on seemingly more importance this year because of the mid-term elections. The easiest way to get engaged in civics is to vote. As said before, that’s not breaking news.

A more challenging way to get civically engaged is to follow village activities.  With Village Board elections coming up in April of 2019, you can bet there will be folks who will run for one of three Trustee seats available or, perhaps, even Village President.

Unless they are seeking re-election, some of the candidates who run seldom, if ever, attend Village Board meetings. Others may run simply to promote their own agenda rather than work for the issues facing the village as a whole.

While people want to jump on national or global band wagons, there is greater need for civic engagement at the grassroots level. There are more pressing issues than snow removal, skunks and parkway trees.

Sirabian knows this, which is why she gets young people involved.

And from the looks of things from last Monday’s Civics Forum – they get it.

Hopefully more people will.

Education, demonstrations highlight Fire Department's Open House

Residents had a chance to learn about fire safety, fire fighting techniques as well as the opportunity to climb on fire equipment at the Buffalo Grove Fire Department's annual Open House.

The event was held Saturday, Sept. 22 at the main fire station at  1051 Highland Grove Drive.  In addition to BGFD equipment, the "Flight for Life" helicopter was on display and gave visitors a chance to learn about the unit.

The "Flight for Life" helicopter gave visitors a chance for
a quick tour and photo opportunity.

Visitors had the opportunity to learn about the BGFD's ambulances.

Future fire fighters had the chance to check out
fire trucks and engines.

A chance to sit in the "Flight for Life" helicopter

A mobile command center was on display.

Young and old fire fighters had a chance to learn  how to handle a fire extinguisher.

The "Flight for Life" helicopter takes off after being on display at the BGFD open house