Our endorsement for Brian LaVaque for Lombard Trustee District 1

Newcomer Brian LaVaque, who is vying for District 1 trustee in Lombard, wants to help the village become an even more vibrant community by focusing on developing the downtown area into a place that will attract young families and new businesses.

LaVaque, a member of Lombard's Economic & Development Committee from 2013 to 2019, believes the village could achieve this with a comprehensive revitalization plan that includes focusing on making the village more walkable and bikeable, addressing traffic safety in the neighborhoods and taking a hard look at how new properties are developed. Flooding is another ongoing issue that he would address as part of a master plan.

Also, LaVaque would push to wave permitting fees for residential projects under $25,000 and for commercial projects under $50,000 as a way to incentivize residents and businesses to improve existing properties and thus allow financially hard-hit restaurants to make outdoor dining improvements. He also wants to explore extending the local sales tax rebate and suspending the Places of Eating Tax for restaurants for a longer period of time.

Regarding the pandemic, LaVaque thinks the village should create partnerships with the large health care providers in town (Edward-Elmhurst and DuPage Medical Group) to provide virtual seminars to the public as well as adequately budget for PPE for the public safety departments.

His opponent, Bradley Hanewall did not participate in the Daily Herald endorsement process.

Given his solid ideas for how to advance Lombard and his direct experience with some of the issues he feels most strongly about, Brian LaVaque is endorsed.