Experienced office holder, political newcomer seek to represent Lake County Board District 2
An experienced public office holder and a political newcomer are running to represent District 2 on the Lake County Board.
Republican Adam Schlick, a battalion chief for the Wauconda Fire District who is in his second term as a Wauconda village trustee, says he has a passion for public service.
"When I saw the redistricting, I thought this was a tremendous opportunity," he said. "I'll bring a level-headed approach you need to govern."
Schlick said elected officials should be experienced community leaders committed to solving problems with a pragmatic, results-oriented approach.
Democrat Linda Troester is a retired research biologist/toxicologist with a background in environmental and health sciences making her first run for public office.
A court-appointed special advocate, the Round Lake resident said she loves Lake County and wants to help "make it even better and more sustainable."
"I think like a scientist and am guided by research and facts but I also understand that we must collaborate effectively to get the results we all want," she said.
Both say skills gained through their respective experiences would translate well to the county board.
District 2 is one of two county board districts redrawn for the Nov. 8 election in which an incumbent doesn't live. It includes all or parts of Hawthorn Woods, Mundelein, Round Lake, Round Lake Park and Wauconda. County board members double as Lake County Forest Preserve District commissioners.
Before being elected to the village board in 2017, Schlick, a lifelong Wauconda resident, served on the Wauconda Park District Board for four years, including two as board president.
He said the biggest issue in the district is that "people don't feel listened to." He cited new county board-approved rules for waste hauling that became effective June 1.
"It's more, 'We did this. Deal with it,' Schlick said. "It's not how government should work."
He said county board partisanship only hurts taxpayers.
"Voters can count on me to be there and listen when they need something," he said.
Troester said areas of District 2 are growing fast with new developments bringing people and vehicles that are stressing roads, schools and the environment. She said keeping pace with environmental and traffic issues is key.
Troester said continuing to widen roads is unsustainable and called for a "rapid transit system that people will use" to key areas in western Lake County.
Schlick said his priorities, if elected, include maintaining solid fiscal policies and balanced budgets, growing and reviving the economy coming out of the coronavirus pandemic, supporting the Lake County sheriff's office to promote public safety and enhancing current forest preserve properties.
He said he would be open to asking voters if they wanted to increase taxes to improve forest preserve holdings, but "economically it's going to be really tough right now" to put that question to a referendum.
Troester said she also could support a referendum question if it included more dog parks and wider distribution of amenities, such as shelters and picnic areas.
"I could support one in the future, but right now is a difficult time," she said. "We need to use the money we have."