John Wasik: 2022 candidate for Lake County Board District 6
Bio
Party: Democratic
Office sought: Lake County Board District 6
City: Grayslake
Age: 65
Occupation: Writer-journalist, JK Enterprises (self-employed)
Previous offices held: President, Citizens Action Project
Q&A
Q: Why are you running for this office, whether for reelection or election for the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you?
A: I am running for reelection to the Lake County Board (6th District). I want to continue working on tax and environmental issues. Although we've made major progress, we still have much to do on stormwater management and reducing the county's carbon footprint. I also want to improve local roads and reduce congestion.
Q: If you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us of any important initiatives you've led. If you are a challenger, what would you bring to the board and what would your priority be?
A: As chair of the county board legislative committee, I led a team that was successful in obtaining more than half a billion dollars in state funds for highway improvements and stormwater management. More than $31 million of these funds will be invested in the 6th District. I also advocated for $2.5 million in ARPA funds for the Highland Lake water system (which will cost homeowners nothing); $1 million for a flood control project in Grayslake's Haryan Farms community and a railroad underpass for Route 120 at Route 83, which will help relieve extreme traffic congestion in that corridor (now being evaluated by IDOT). Improving traffic flow and reducing pollution is something I'm firmly committed to in a second term.
I also wrote and published the county's first Taxpayer Bill of Rights, which tells taxpayers where their money is going and how they can appeal their assessments. It's on this page: www.lakecountyil.gov//199/Property-Taxes
Q: Given the recent history of flat tax levies, do you think the county/forest preserve have done good jobs of budgeting or do you see specific area that can be improved?
A: The forest preserve staff has done a great job, but the district is stretched to the bone. It needs a robust, reliable source of funding so that we can pay for operations, open up new preserves and expand trails. We clearly need to replace the lost revenue that evaporated after the 2008 crash. They are short on capital improvement funds.
I would work on bolstering the district's income stream so we can open new preserves and finish work on the properties we're improving like Lakewood, our largest complex. As vice president of the forest preserve, I raised $2 million in private donations for the district's first net-zero environmental education center. I also successfully advocated for carbon credits for planting trees and regenerative farming on forest preserve land being farmed. We should expand our carbon credits program to include wetlands and prairies, which absorb carbon, heat and stormwater.
Q: Would you support putting a referendum on the ballot for voters to decide if they wish to issue new bonds to preserve open spaces, restore habitats, create more trails and upgrade forest preserves?
A: The forest preserve is one of the most popular institutions in Lake County, but I know taxpayers are pinched and may not want to pay for more land purchases. Voters have supported these measures overwhelmingly in the past, although putting a measure on the ballot is always an essential step. Nevertheless, they should have an opportunity to decide.
Q: What is the single most important issue facing your district and how should the county address it?
A: High property taxes. I commissioned a national expert at the University of Chicago to study tax rates and assessments throughout the county. Lower-value property owners tended to pay higher effective tax rates, which isn't fair. I published the result in my newsletter. We need to work with state legislators to find out how we can make the system equitable. We also need to consider alternative sources of funding schools - the largest portion of property tax bills.
Q: Lake County officials want public feedback on how to spend portions of some $135 million in leftover federal pandemic funding. What are your thoughts on how the money ought to be spent?
A: We are evaluating public input now. I was only one of three board members who attended our last ARPA town hall in Round Lake. I listened to community members. There is a pressing need for expanded behavioral health services, especially for vets and young people. We also need to support food pantries, people who were unable to work and fell behind on mortgages and small businesses.