Lester A. Ottenheimer: 2025 candidate for Buffalo Grove village board

Bio

Office sought: Buffalo Grove village board (Vote for 3)

City: Buffalo Grove

Age: 70

Occupation: Attorney

Previous offices held: Buffalo Grove Village Trustee since 2011

What is the most serious issue your community will face in the coming years and how should the village board respond to it?

I see a shortage of empty-nester housing, i.e. maintenance-free, primary down etc. residences in the village. The village needs to reach out to developers and entice them to build such housing in Buffalo Grove. This will provide options to those who are seeking empty-nester housing and not only keep residents from moving out of the village to find that type of housing but may also attract those from outside the village to move here This type of housing will also add to the property tax base.

In addition, as a board member, I am working diligently to bring more sit down restaurants to the village, which continues to be an important need. The board has made some progress with Lazy Dog opening mid-March and the addition of 2-3 more sit-down restaurants in The Clove

How would you describe the state of your community's finances? What should be the top priorities for spending during the next few years? Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed?

The village has done a superior job with respect to its finances, holding a AAA bond rating from Standard and Poor's, the highest possible rating held by only a handful of municipalities, ensuring lower interest rates and maximizing the value of the resident's tax dollars, maintaining healthy operating reserves at 35%, ensuring it is prepared for emergencies/long-term financial stability.

For six consecutive years, the village has maintained 0% increase to the property tax levy, successfully keeping its property tax rate flat, prioritizing financial responsibility for its residents. The village has agreements with companies to encourage them to relocate to Buffalo Grove/increase their presence in the village which allows them to recoup their relocation/expansion costs through a sharing of new or increased sales tax revenues generated by those entities.

This has meant significant revenues to the village -- at no cost to Buffalo Grove taxpayers and enabled the village to recover expenses for services it provides that otherwise would have been paid for the increased sales taxes. This is real economic development that provides for a broad and sustainable economic base for the village.

What do you see as the most important infrastructure project the community must address? Why and how should it be paid for? Conversely, during these uncertain economic times, what project(s) can be put on the back burner?

Roads and water/sewer are the most important infrastructure projects and Buffalo Grove has addressed and is addressing those needs.

Launched in 2024, the Infrastructure Modernization Program is the largest capital investment program in the village's history.

Totaling $53.1 million, the program, due to hard work and creative thinking, is offset by $17 million in grants, minimizing the impact on property taxes and maximizing the value of resident's tax dollars. The water and sewer infrastructure is old and is in the beginning processes of failing. That is why the village has made this one of its priorities.

Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach an agreement and manage local government? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board.

I am a practicing attorney and the skills I have acquired lend quite well to managing local government. I believe in thoroughness and hard work. I believe attention to detail is important. I am a forward thinker -- always considering the consequences of actions that village takes on the residents and to make sure the core services the village provides remain top notch.

I believe in collaboration and when necessary, compromise -- all with a view of making and keeping Buffalo Grove a great place to live and raise a family. I am a listener. I am a consensus builder. I want to hear what the resident's concerns are and will always address them Lastly, I am accessible. I will always be available for any questions, concerns problems or issues raised by any resident. I believe in government transparency and during my terms on the board. I have made it a priority to educate and inform, all of the residents of all village business which is relevant to them and the village has an open-door policy. The village has reached out to all sectors of the community and has urged all to get involved in village government.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I have been a sitting trustee for 14 years. As such, I have the knowledge, history and experience to continue to lead the village. Because of my experience, I am very familiar with how the village works and operates, what its strengths and weakness are and what needs to be done to accomplish things and to keep the village strong both financially operational wise and what is in the best interests of the residents

Through my leadership, knowledge and passion for the village, Buffalo Grove is thriving and has seen tremendous upturn in economic development. Examples include, but are not limited to The Clove, a complete redevelopment of Town Center into a vibrant hub for residents and businesses; Bison Crossing, a complete transformation of the old Rohrman property into a thriving space featuring a Tesla dealership residential and commercial developments; continued growth along the Dundee and Lake Cook corridors including opening of the new public works facility and the start of the Fire Station 25 rebuild. Buffalo Grove is a place that get things done -- from responsive public services to forward thinking, urban planning and fiscal responsibility during my time on the board.

What’s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?

One idea which I believe could really make a difference in our community is a “Skills Shared Network.” It would be a local initiate where people can freely exchange skills, whether it's cooking, carpentry, coding or language lessons, for example. It is about creating a culture of sharing knowledge where everyone has something valuable to offer, no matter their background or profession The network could operate through a community platform (online or even physical spaces) where people can list what they're willing to teach and what they want to learn.

It would help build stronger community bonds, break down social barriers and empower people by connecting them with resources they otherwise might not have access to. It would create opportunities for people to discover new passions and career pathways. It's a way of not just supporting the local economy, but also improve mental well-being by fostering a sense of connection and self-worth.