Slate looking for 'Fresh Start' in Vernon Hills
Despite an occasional challenger, the Vernon Hills village board has remained largely intact for at least eight years, a situation a slate of "Fresh Start" candidates wants to change in April.
Long-term incumbents Thom Koch Jr., first elected in 1993, and Jim Schultz, elected in 2005, as well as 2015 appointee Tim Grieb, face an organized challenge from Timothy Nockels, Craig Takaoka and Alessandro Serra for 4-year board terms. Fellow Fresh Start slate candidate Craig Oppenheim is running against incumbent-backed Tom Quille for a 2-year term.
Challengers say a change from the status quo and more transparency, community involvement and economic efficiencies are needed in the village.
"What might have worked 20 years ago won't cut it in the years to come," said Serra, a sales and marketing professional.
Incumbents reject the charge that residents don't have a say in proposed developments, and note the village's strong financial position and other achievements from their tenures.
"When I hear we're not transparent, I just kind of shake my head," said Schultz, adding that he has an in-depth understanding of village needs and operations. "There's nothing that's done behind closed doors. We meet with all the concerned parties."
Takaoka, who like Serra lives in Greggs Landing subdivision, says he wants to take his community involvement to another level.
"Because I have four children in the school system now and coach youth athletics year round, I am in a position to both understand what the community wants and to facilitate getting more people involved," he said.
Koch, a teacher at Hawthorn Middle School South with 30 years experience, said he has strong sense of community history but also is continuously learning and looking ahead.
It is important for the village to keep a strong commercial base and find ways to better partner with retailers to remain competitive, said Koch, who was the only trustee to vote against a $20 million incentive for the proposed Mellody Farm development.
Grieb, a computer systems professional for the Illinois Department of Transportation and former police pension board trustee, was appointed to the board in November 2015 when Jeanne Schwartz resigned. A 27-year-resident, Grieb said he's seen the community change from farm fields to a vibrant village and wants to continue his involvement.
"I've seen how the board works and see the positive things they've done and how responsive they've been to the people," he said.
Nockels also applied for Schwartz' seat. The commodities broker said a "hands-on" approach to public service is lacking.
"I thrive for negotiations. I feel Vernon Hills is systemically turning into a retail mecca with repetitive stores that will in the near future begin to devalue the market place," he said.
For the two-year term, pediatrician David Oppenheim is a founder of Build Something Special, an organization "dedicated to maintaining quality of life and home property values while encouraging appropriate development." The group sued to block a Menards store from being built. The case was settled late last year.
"I don't want this to be a Menards fight but it was very much informing how the board listened to us - or didn't listen to us," he said.
Quille, who is involved with technology sales, grew up in Vernon Hills and has been a member of the village's board of police and fire commissioners. He considers it a "natural transition" to take on a larger role in local government.
"I want to help drive the village forward in maintaining its tremendous reputation, while building for the future," he said.