Gurnee trustee hopefuls discuss red-light cameras

Gurnee village board candidates have outlined their positions on whether red-light cameras should remain at some major intersections.

Voters will go to the polls April 5 to select from five candidates seeking three, 4-year village trustee seats. On the ballot are incumbents Greg Garner and Cheryl Ross, along with plan commission member Steve Park and political newcomers Heath Hummel and Matt Koch.

All five candidates participated in a recent Daily Herald editorial board endorsement interview and addressed the issues in a questionnaire. Similar to other suburbs with red-light cameras, the candidates gave some insight about how they view the equipment.

Officially launched in June 2009, the photo enforcement program focuses on busy intersections, such as east- and westbound Grand Avenue at Hunt Club Road near Gurnee Mills.

Garner, who’s in pharmaceutical sales and joined the village board in 2005, was one of two trustees who voted against a deal with RedFlex Traffic Systems Inc. He has not changed his opinion of the devices.

“I believe this program is bad for business because it leaves visiting shoppers with a negative Gurnee shopping experience,” Garner said, “not to mention the potential for rear-end collisions. This program is simply a crafty way of separating taxpayers from their dollars.”

Park, a senior vice president for The Alter Group, said red-light cameras should not be used solely as a revenue-generator. He said there should be enough data at the end of RedFlex’s three-year contract to determine if the cameras increased public safety.

Hummel, who sells high-tech electrical automation and control equipment to manufacturers, said he’s adamantly opposed to having photo enforcement in Gurnee.

“Right-light cameras are no way to treat the residents and welcome guests to our community,” Hummel said.

Ross, a retired teacher elected to the village board in 2007, said officials made the decision in favor of photo enforcement based on public safety and facts, not emotion.

“I hope that revenue from this source goes down,” Ross said, “because that means people are obeying the traffic laws.”

Koch, who’s in sales, said the cameras should be removed “at the earliest possible time.”

Gurnee Trustee Michael Jacobs had planed to seek re-election, but he was removed from the ballot earlier this year because his political committee owes the Illinois State Board of Elections more than $2,500 in fines connected to his 2008 run for Lake County state’s attorney, officials said.