Q&A with Peter Grant
Three candidates -- Peter Grant, Gene Kryczka and Steve Skinner -- are facing off in the Democratic primary Feb. 5 for District 1 Lake County Board. The winner will challenge Republican Linda Petersen in November to take outgoing incumbent Judy Martini's seat.
District 1 represents Antioch, portions of Fox Lake, Spring Grove, Lake Villa, Lindenhurst and Old Mill Creek.
The Daily Herald asked candidates to share their views on important issues concerning voters.
Q. Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you, and if so, what? What will be your main priority?
GRANT: As a 22-year resident of Antioch, I know the people in District 1 and I understand the culture of the lakes region. I know that I can do a good job of representing this community. I am not a professional politician, I am a working man and a family man who has seen the need for change. Change in the way we do business up here. I am inspired to bring about that change through my candidacy. This campaign is about empowering my community to literally change the face of politics in northern Lake County. My first priority will be to get to work on our roads.
Q. For incumbents and non-incumbents. If you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us of important initiatives you've led. If you are not an incumbent, tell us what contributions you would make.
GRANT: We can make Lake County a greener county through public policy. The conversation starts in the county boardroom. The first thing that I would like to see would be stringent energy-saving measures adopted by all county-wide agencies. Starting with small things like not idling county vehicles for, say, more than 15 minutes at a time and using green technologies in all county buildings starting with the use of light bulbs. There are devices available on the market that can power down office equipment and vending machines and reduce electricity use by almost 50 percent in the course of a year. We can save the county plenty of money by implementing these types of strategies and setting an example for the residents of the county to follow.
Q. What is the most pressing issue currently facing the county board?
GRANT: Roads, roads, roads are the most pressing issue in Lake County. We live in one of the most affluent counties in the country and there is no excuse why we are driving on these cow paths that they call roads. Why is it that other counties such as DuPage get their fair share of state road dollars and we in Lake County get passed over again and again? I will work with State Sen. Michael Bond, who by the way is the vice chair of the State Transportation Committee, to get the road money that we so desperately need in northern Lake County.
Q:Should a new Winchester House focus on a particular health-care specialty? If so, what specialty? If not, why?
GRANT: It's possible that a specialty such as geriatric medicine could be specialized in as long as it wasn't a budget buster. This is an issue that I will need to look at in more detail to understand better.
Q:What should the forest preserve do with the Fort Sheridan golf course?
GRANT: Generally I would support a venue that would benefit the largest number of residents.
Q. Should the forest preserve board accelerate the pace of opening facilities to the public? Please explain.
GRANT: Not necessarily. The forest preserve lands should be made available to the public as soon as possible but I understand that it is important to purchase land when it is available at a reasonable cost to the tax payers. That means that sometimes this land may not be ready for awhile. I would rather see the land set aside for future use such as the Raven Glenn parcel in Antioch now being considered for the Olympic Equestrian venue in 2016. This is a long-range plan that would not be ready for some time, but may be a treasured facility in the future
Q. Should the forest preserve district build new headquarters? If so, why and where? If not, why not?
GRANT: This plan is in its infancy. I would have to see the numbers and be shown what the need for this facility is. There may be a need but I don't know what the cost estimates are right now and what the overall plan is. There is a plan on the table for a new maintenance facility. Maybe the headquarters could be combined with the maintenance building.
Q. Should the forest preserve board use eminent domain to acquire the last missing link in the Des Plaines River Trail? Why or why not?
GRANT: Eminent domain is a hot button issue these days and I think that the Forest Preserve district should be very careful in using this power. If it could be shown that there would be no hardship caused by this action then I would support it but it would depend on the circumstances.
Q. Are there additional steps, beside those already under way, that the county board can or should take to provide traffic congestion relief?
GRANT: I would support a countywide study to look at innovative ways to help reduce traffic congestion and gridlock while we continue to push for the money that we need. One way that this could be accomplished would be to revisit intersections that the traffic patterns have changed over the years since growth has occurred and reconfigure turn lanes to make them longer. I have seen some of this done in my district.
Q. Is there any issue of unique or particular interest to your district?
GRANT: I think that ground water is going to be an issue in our community very soon and I support the Lake Michigan water initiative. The health of our lakes is becoming more and more an issue as more development comes to the 1st District. I strongly support protecting the health of our lakes for the sake of the businesses that depend on the recreation that the lakes provide and I accept the responsibility that we have to care for our lakes as part of our heritage in Antioch and all of District 1. This is our culture in Northern Lake County