GL_031617

6 | March 16, 2017 | The glenview lantern Election 2017
glenviewlantern.com
Glenview Park Board (3 candidates, 2 seats)
Name: Charlie Kuhn
Age: 55
Occupation:
Sales
Past local
government/relative
experience:
Board
member
Kuhn
— Glenview Park District
Board of Commissioners
What do you see as the
biggest issue facing the
Glenview Park District
and how would you approach
it during your
term?
One of the challenges the
Glenview Park District
faces is balancing the residents’
needs and wants
relating to programs, services
and facilities versus
what the District can afford,
based on generated
revenue and taxes it collects.
Currently, the GPD
is exploring the feasibility
of expanding the Glenview
Ice Center from one-anda-half
to two-and-a-half
sheets of ice. The price tag,
of course, is the issue. The
estimates range from $10-
12 million to add onto the
existing structure to $18
million-plus to bulldoze
and begin anew. Clearly,
there is a want and there
is a need for an additional
sheet of ice in Glenview
and the District wants our
residents to have highquality
amenities, so it is
currently exploring options.
I wholeheartedly
agree our community can
and will benefit from an
additional sheet of ice, but
the expansion proposal
must make economic sense
or the GPD debt on the facility
could hamstring the
District for 20 years. While
it’s easy to say “I support
more ice,” it’s misguided,
uninformed and reckless
to say “regardless of cost.”
Good governance requires
understanding whether the
District can afford the actual
costs of more ice and
what other priorities might
have to be sacrificed if
such costs are incurred.
What makes you a top
candidate?
I am uniquely qualified
to serve another term as
a Glenview Park District
commissioner because I
have immersed myself
in the role as representative
of the Glenview Park
District residents and I
have always placed the
taxpayer first. I take pride
in doing what is best for
the District and, at every
turn, attempt to ensure the
District spends taxpayer
funds wisely. I have opposed
every tax increase
and successfully lobbied
for flat taxes four out of
the past six years. I am
frugal by nature, as evidenced
by the fact that I
drive my 11-year-old
pickup truck on a daily
basis. My frugality is reflected
in my decision
making as it applies to
GPD expenditures, and I
treat GPD funds as if they
were my own family’s
funds. I work from home
and am available to attend
nearly every scheduled
meeting — in fact, during
my tenure, I have attended
more than 250 GPD meetings.
I sincerely hope to
serve my fellow residents
for one more elected term.
Name: Jen
Roberts
Age: 47
Occupation:
Attorney
Past government/
Roberts
relevant
experience: PTAs, nonprofit
board, local advisory
board
What do you see as the
biggest issue facing the
Glenview Park District
and how would you approach
it during your
term?
Several potential projects
are on the horizon, including
expanding the Ice
Center, renovating Park
Center and adding a naval
air station museum. The
financial impact of these
projects should be considered
carefully, along with
the GPD’s strategic plan.
The GPD has worked hard
over the past several years
to keep its portion of the
property tax flat, but the
technique used may not
be sustainable over the
long-term. In addition,
Barb Cremin, the current
deputy director, is retiring
in April. Barb has done an
excellent job providing financial
leadership for the
GPD for many years. The
Board, Director Michael
McCarty and the new
deputy director will need
to find the right balance
for the GPD to continue
to provide the quality of
facilities our community
expects while practicing
fiscal responsibility.
What makes you a top
candidate?
I love Glenview, and I am
a passionate advocate for
our Park District.
I bring a unique array of
experiences. I’ve been both
a stay-at-home mom and a
working mom in Glenview
since 1998. I’m an attorney
currently practicing realestate
law. I’ve worked on
PTAs; educational task
forces; non-profit Friends
of Wagner Farm, which I
founded; and the League
Don’t just list
your real estate
property...
of Women Voters. I also
chaired a parent advisory
board at the Ice Center,
and I’m a Master Gardener
volunteer. However, it’s
my experience as a staff
member at Wagner Farm
that sets me apart. As a
recent employee of one of
our fantastic museum sites,
I know firsthand the effort
and planning that goes into
running our facilities.
My goals are simple.
First, I want to ensure that
we are providing quality
programs for our entire
community, paying
attention to our changing
demographics. Second,
I want to ensure that we
fulfill the mission of being
an employer of choice. As
the first employer of many
of our teen residents, the
GPD has an opportunity
to provide quality employment
while modeling best
practices. Finally, I will
work to both protect our
natural resources and to
expand and improve upon
our sustainable practices at
all facilities.
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Name: Daniel B. Peterson
Age: 55
Occupation:
Recently
transitioned
to
principal
emeritus for
ZS Associates
(a global
management consulting
firm focused on sales and
marketing) after 32 years
Past government/relevant
experience: Finishing
six-year term as
Glenview Park Board
Commissioner. Currently
serving as board
president. Also in several
volunteer positions
with the Boy Scouts,
and on boards of Northlight
Theatre and Northern
Suburban Special
Recreation
Foundation.
Peterson
Association
What do you see as the
biggest issue facing the
Glenview Park District
and how would you approach
it during your
term?
How to continue to maintain,
develop and enhance
the District’s outstanding
facilities, programs and
events while still protecting
residents from excessive
property taxes or user
fees.
Some priorities will be
to:
• Partner with others to
add a second full sheet
of indoor ice, keeping
more skaters in Glenview
in a financially responsible
manner, with community
input on how to
finance it
• Reduce the 1998 Farm
& Fields referendum’s tax
increase, once the bonds
issued to develop Wagner
Farm and Community
Park West are paid off in
2020, to the level needed
to maintain and operate
the Farm and those sports
fields, as promised in
1998
• Allow non-motorized
boating on Lake Glenview,
preserving safety
and nature
• Upgrade offerings appealing
to ethnic groups,
sports groups and people
with shared interests
• Treasure The Grove,
Wagner Farm, Air Station
Prairie to experience nature
and history
• Deepen partnerships
to deliver the best at the
least cost
What makes you a top
candidate?
I am proud of our accomplishments
these six years
in terms of new/enhanced
facilities, programs and
events. Plus, we:
• Had virtually no increase
in property taxes
over the past six years,
nor in salaried employees
• Maintained the District’s
Aaa bond rating,
allowing borrowing at the
lowest interest rates
• Drew down reserves
and refinanced bonds
• Discontinued free use
of District facilities for
former commissioners
I went to elementary
and junior high school
in Glenview. I graduated
from Loyola Academy as
valedictorian, then attended
Drake University and
received an MBA from
Northwestern University.
I am a certified public
accountant. As an instrument-rated
private pilot, I
have taken more than 150
kids flying through the
Young Eagles program.
I received a Presidential
Award for volunteering
and was named Glenview’s
1978 Youth of the
Year.
My wife, Melanie,
serves as Northfield
Township trustee. We
have three children in college
and a dog.