Terson making 2nd run for Buffalo Grove trustee

Michael Terson is making a second bid for a seat on the Buffalo Grove village board, the public relations and marketing manager for the village's park district has announced.

Terson, a Buffalo High School graduate, ran for trustee two years ago, but lost to Jeffrey Braiman, Beverly Sussman and Lisa Stone. At the time he was the only candidate from the Cook County side of the village.

Though he has never served in elective office, Terson said he already is experienced aspects of government such as budgeting, working with elected officials and communicating with residents.

“As trustee, my role at the park district will help me to forge stronger ties and partnerships between the village and park district to bring better amenities to the residents of Buffalo Grove, he said.

Terson said he has a proven track record of creative ideas and accomplishments within the community. Examples include creating the Walk the Dome program at the Golf and Sports Center, the summer Movies Under the Stars series at Willow Stream Park and the park district's corporate sponsorship program that has generated more than $250,000 for free special events, he said.

He said he has also found creative ways to manage the park district's marketing budget, saving more than $10,000 annually by taking on some duties that had been outsourced and negotiating better contracts.

“As trustee, my decision-making would combine common sense, logic and keeping the best interest of the village at heart, while always treating my colleagues, staff, business owners and residents with respect, Terson said.

Terson, however, is no stranger to controversy. His band, Hipcheck16, is named after a poster on the Daily Herald comment board who was sued by Trustee Lisa Stone for remarks directed at her son.

But Terson pointed out that he has nothing to do with effort to recall Stone from office.

“The efforts of others to recall Lisa Stone have nothing to do with why I am running for trustee, he said. “I will run for a four-year term regardless of whether or not Lisa Stone is recalled and I will not run for a two-year term that might become available if she is recalled.

Seats currently held by trustees Jeffrey Berman, DeAnn Glover and Steve Trilling, as well as Village President Elliott Hartstein, will be up for election next year.