Departing Lake Co. board members reflect on how to be effective

Between them, the six Lake County Board members leaving office at the end of November have roughly 60 years experience on the panel.

Judy Martini and Carol Spielman chose to retire after distinguished careers. The other four - Terese Douglass, Larry Leafblad, Bob Powers and Randy Whitmore - lost their seats on Election Day.

Their tenures were filled with countless debates about transportation, housing and commercial developments, the environment, health care and other important topics.

They made decisions that helped shape the character, and future, of Lake County.

Five of the departing board members spoke with the Daily Herald this week about their accomplishments and the job's impact on them. Spielman could not be reached.

We asked all five commissioners the same three questions. Their answers - sometimes surprising, often insightful - follow.

Terese Douglass

A Grayslake Republican who served the final two years of Sandy Cole's term after Cole was elected to the state legislature.

What have you learned? That we have one of the best counties in the nation. It's professionally run, it's financially sound and it looks out for the people who live in the county.

Of what are you most proud? The fact that I was able to come in, in the middle of everyone (else's) term and I was able to work with people and gain people's respect.

What's your advice for the board? (They should) remember that they represent the people who elected them. It's not personal. It's not about the other 22 members. It's about the people who elected them.

Larry Leafblad

A Grayslake Republican who served from 1990-2002 and again from 2004-08.

What have you learned? I've learned that a unit of government can actually be run like a business. And instead of good old boys being told what to do, now it's like a finely run corporation (with) a very clear chain of command. Lake County, under the tutelage of (County Administrator) Barry Burton, has been transformed into a businesslike operation that's running in the black, and I never thought that was possible.

Of what are you most proud? (I) brought CASA to Lake County in 1991 (CASA volunteers are Court Appointed Special Advocates for children whose parents are involved in court cases). It's one of those little things that nobody knows about ... the kids are dramatically and emotionally involved when somebody in their family is in court. The impact is felt at the home, and that's really where the CASAs work.

What's your advice for the board? Keep working as a team. Try to overlook partisan differences.

Judy Martini

An Antioch Republican who served 1994-2008.

What have you learned? I've learned to make some tough decisions. And in making tough decisions, you can't make everyone happy. But you're able to sleep at night knowing what you did was right and best for the general public.

Of what are you most proud? The Route 173 corridor council (leaders from several towns in northern Lake County banded together to create a single vision for future development and transportation improvements in the area). It got some of the municipalities to work together and have the same goal in mind, instead of letting a developer pit one municipality against the other.

What's your advice for the board? To leave politics at the back door and to govern. That's what you were elected to do.

Bob Powers

A Round Lake Beach Republican who served 2002-08.

What have you learned? The complexities of the board - all of the things that are involved. A lot of people think it's very easy to understand, but it's far more complicated than (I) thought it would be.

Of what are you most proud? The planning for the new Winchester House (the board voted in 2007 year to build a new, smaller nursing home). It's something that's going to be needed in the future.

What's your advice for the board? Just keep up the job they're doing. We all really worked together ... there are personality conflicts like anything else, but all in all I think (we) did a good job.

Randy Whitmore

A Wadsworth Republican who served 2002-08.

What have you learned? The biggest thing I learned is that nothing is fast in government. It takes time to get things done. A couple of projects I worked on took 41/2 years to get done.

Of what are you most proud? When we were done voting, there was never any animosity. I don't ever remember walking away from the county board with ill feelings toward another member (because of a vote).

What's your advice for the board? To keep an eye on the budget and don't spend money we don't have. Because it's going to get lean.