'Tree lady' running for Arlington Heights trustee seat

Laurie Taylor, who led the charge to save Arlington Heights trees from emerald ash borer, is ready to take on a new challenge.

Taylor, a 30-year village resident, says she will run for a seat on the Arlington Heights Village Board in next April's municipal elections.

"There are so many topics I hear talked about and I want to be a part of it," said Taylor, 60. "I love Arlington Heights. People might know of me as the 'tree lady,' but I want to help the whole town."

Taylor may be facing a full slate of incumbents as Trustees Jim Tinaglia, Tom Glasgow, Joe Farwell and Bert Rosenberg are all up for re-election for four four-year terms at stake April 4.

She said she doesn't have anything against the current board, but wants to be part of the decision making in the future.

"I think they're all doing a great job and I respect them," she said. "But, I'm up to the challenge. I know it sounds crazy, but I want to try."

Taylor said she hope to make sure the north end of Arlington Heights is well represented on the village board. She has been a member of the Northgate Civic Association for the past decade and president of the group for the last five years.

When the emerald ash borer began sweeping through the suburban forest, Taylor and leaders of a few other neighborhood associations created a consortium and asked the village board for help. At their urging, the village created a rebate program that incentivized homeowners to try to save their trees by paying for 50 percent of the costs of treatment.

The program is now being phased out, as most ash trees in the village have either been treated or replaced, but Taylor said that in Northgate alone 350 or 400 trees were treated this year.

Going forward, Taylor said she is interested in issues like affordable housing and making sure the village's flooding issues are solved.

Taylor works in information technology and spends her spare time with her husband, daughter, son-in-law and grandson.

"I love everything this town has to offer," she said. "I just want to keep that going and to help the village get even better in the future."