Sara Frederick Knizhnik: 2024 candidate for Lake County Board District 18

Bio

Party: Democrat

Office Sought: Lake County Board District 18

City: Vernon Hills

Age: 52

Occupation: Public Policy Advocate

Previous offices held: Lake County Board District 18 since 2022; Vernon Township Trustee

Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election for the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you? If so, what?

I am running for re-election to the Lake County Board because I want to continue to be a strong voice for my community. I believe passionately in local government because that is where everyday people can have the greatest impact on creating a better future.

I’ve been a gun violence prevention advocate for the last seven years. In this role, I have organized volunteers and taught them to advocate for and secure policy change at all three levels of government.

As a board member, one of my priorities is to take the lessons I learned in this work and use them to help my constituents solve problems that matter to their lives. My other priority is to advance policy solutions that use taxpayer funds in the most effective way possible. I am always looking for ways to: 1) fund projects that support more than one of the county’s strategic goals at a time, and 2) eliminate redundancy in county spending. Building a safer, greener and more affordable Lake County will always be my goal.

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?

In 2018, as a private citizen, I began advocating for the first-ever office of violence prevention in Lake County. I saw that goal achieved in June 2022 and have continued to support the work of the Gun Violence Prevention Initiative (GVPI), beginning with my election in November 2022.

Through this unprecedented model — which is one of only five offices of violence prevention in the country to be housed in a prosecutor’s office, and the only one located in a suburban/rural county — we are building an ecosystem of support for addressing both the acute problem of gun violence and its root causes. Lake County has seen a 40% decrease in firearm homicides in 2024 over 2023.

This is a direct result of the work of the GVPI and its partner organizations. In 2023, we secured the funding for a full-time gun safety specialist who is focused on addressing the high rate of firearm suicide in the county, particularly among our veteran population.

Describe your position regarding the balance between county spending and revenues as it exists today, then describe the chief threats you see looming in the future and how the county should deal with them.

My position is that fiscal responsibility is paramount. We must do everything in our power to keep taxes as low as possible for as long as possible, while maintaining the quality of county services. The county board has kept the levy flat for four of the last five years.

Due to this lack of tax revenue, the impact of COVID-19, and historic levels of inflation in recent years, it was necessary to increase our investment in the Veterans Assistance Commission, the Sheriff’s Department and the Forest Preserve District.

Nothing is more important than supporting our veterans, and we can't ensure public safety without supporting law enforcement.

The quality of the county and forest preserve staff is second to none. Because of their expertise and professionalism, they secure public and private funds far beyond the operations that are paid for through the 8% of property tax bills that are allocated to the county. In other words, they do more with less. And they deserve to be paid competitive wages.

Does there need to be more bipartisanship and cooperation on the county board? If yes, what would you do to help make that happen?

As a general rule, I believe the more bipartisanship and cooperation we have on the county board, the better. In my experience over the last two years, there is plenty of both. I have great admiration and respect for all my colleagues on the board — from both parties — because of the way they maintain high standards of respect.

Of course, we don't all agree on everything all the time, but we do not allow it to stand in the way of governing effectively. I am particularly impressed with the spirit of engagement I see from my colleagues on the board who, when they disagree, always do so with the utmost decorum and grace.

In early 2023, I moved to pass a resolution calling on the Illinois General Assembly to pass a safe firearm storage bill. The entire board voted unanimously in favor of this resolution. Although we may disagree on the details of what a bill like this should include, we all agree that responsible gun ownership is essential for saving lives.

What do you see as the greatest need in your district from a county (roads, etc) and forest preserve (facilities, amenities) standpoint?

One of the biggest challenges for my district is the need to balance the transportation-related concerns of the county as a whole with those of District 18 residents. Compromise in local government is not just a nice thing to have; it's essential. It is a value of mine that we must respect the changing nature of the world around us.

Just because a decision was made 10 or 15 years ago regarding what the transportation needs of the county will be today, that does not mean these types of decisions should be set in stone. We must be willing to review the plans we have made in the past and be prepared to flexibly respond to current needs and expectations.

When it comes to the forest preserve facilities and amenities, I would like to investigate how to create a regional trail network in the southwestern part of the county.

What have constituents in your district been asking about that you would like to see addressed in some fashion?

One of the most contentious issues facing residents on the eastern side of District 18 is whether or not we should expand Buffalo Grove Road from two lanes to four. There is strong resident opposition to this expansion, and a deep sense among many that it is unnecessary.

However, there is broad agreement — from both county officials and from residents that there are serious safety concerns on the stretch of Buffalo Grove Road between Routes 45 and 22. The Lake County Department of Transportation has included this expansion plan in its 20-year strategic plan but has tied the security improvements to the expansion, stating that we cannot have one without the other.

I don't see a compelling reason why they must happen in lockstep. I believe public safety must be priority number one. Always. When I am re-elected, I will continue advocating for much needed safety improvements on this stretch of county-owned road.

Is the county/forest board behind the pay curve compared to other jurisdictions and how can the county/forest board best strive to attract and retain key employees?

It has become crystal clear during my 2 years on the board that we have not been competitive in our ability to attract and retain talented staff. This problem has most severely affected the sheriff's office, including the jail, and the state's attorney's office.

Both of these departments have seen major staff shortages and struggled to retain employees because people often leave for higher paying jobs in surrounding counties. This was confirmed by a recent compensation study that we are focused on implementing.

The first time I ran for the county board, I promised my constituents that I would put public safety and support for law enforcement first. That means making sure the people who put their lives on the line every day to keep the peace are properly compensated.

My colleagues on the board and I are serious about making sure we continue to provide the highest quality county services possible and honor the expertise and professionalism of our staff by paying them competitive wages.

Do you think the forest preserve should proceed with an agreement with Waukegan Port Authority for 52 acres of Waukegan Savanna? Why or why not?

I support proceeding with the discussions regarding the possible expansion of the Waukegan Airport. There is a great deal of information that we do not have at this point in time. The principles of responsible governance demand that we wait until we have all the information before determining whether or not to support the sale of some or all of the 52 acres.

When the day comes when we have enough information to make a fully informed decision, then I will make mine with only one question in mind: What choice most effectively balances the needs of the county as a whole and the residents of the city of Waukegan in particular?

Is there a general issue or concern on your radar you would like to see the county/forest board address?

Lake County government is full of dedicated professionals who are committed to serving the residents of the county to the best of their ability. I am continuously amazed by the intelligence, expertise and commitment of county staff.

However, too often, one department is not aware of what other departments are doing. For example, one of the greatest needs we have in Lake County is making sure that the astonishing array of social service organizations we are so blessed to have, are able to connect with the people who need what they are offering most.

I recently learned about one department who had hired a consulting company to create a tool that would streamline this process. But that department was unaware that another county department was spending resources to accomplish the same goal. This is the kind inefficiency in government — inefficiency in the use of taxpayer money — that I cannot tolerate. When I am re-elected, I will continue to prioritize eliminating this type of redundancy.