Golf courses key issue in Lake board race

Few people may think about golf in this weather, but two who do are competing in the Lake County Board District 2 Democratic primary.

Candidate Mark Stricklin wants the county to sell all its golf courses; his opponent, Diane Hewitt, says that idea is too radical.

Stricklin, the Waukegan Township Highway Commissioner, faces Hewitt, the endorsed candidate of the 10th Congressional District Democratic Organization, in Tuesday's primary.

The two are most clearly separated by their stances on the future of the three county-owned golf courses and one possible site.

The Lake County Forest Preserve District golf courses are Countryside, ThunderHawk and Brae Loch. It owns the former Fort Sheridan golf course land and is considering whether to rebuild and reopen it.

Stricklin, making his first run for county-wide office, says the forest preserve district should get out of the entertainment business and sell its golf courses.

He believes the courses are unfair to private enterprise because the county can operate them without the tax burdens a private owner would face.

"I disagree with the county owning enterprises that compete directly with commercial enterprises," he said. "If the logic of owning golf courses is to provide affordable golf, then why doesn't the county buy some gas stations be own to provide affordable gas?"

Hewitt, a switchboard operator for the city of Waukegan who ran unsuccessfully for the District 2 seat in 2006, is more cautious in her approach.

"I do not support any blanket answer to county-owned golf courses," she said. "I believe the situation at each site should be looked at individually."

Both candidates want to ease the tax burdens on county residents.

Stricklin said he supports imposing a 7 percent cap on property tax increases, while Hewitt said she wants a more broad-based approach.

"I believe everyone in county government should take out their pencils and look for places to cut," Hewitt said. "There are thousands of places where money could be saved."

Hewitt favors opening more forest district land to public use. Stricklin wants the land preserved as open space.

Both say traffic congestion is a major issue in the county.

Hewitt says the county should work more closely with municipalities on traffic signal coordination to smooth the flow of vehicles.

Stricklin says he wants to review the current process of setting road improvement priorities to ensure smaller communities get their projects done.