Lake County Board District 5 Democrat candidates discuss land acquisition funds for forest preserves
The two Democrats running for the Lake County Board District 5 seat differ on whether voters should be asked to replenish waning funds to buy more property for forest preserves.
Ingleside resident Gloria Charland said voters have supported that in the past, but now is not the time to try again. Roger T. Smith Sr., of Fox Lake said open space is important and he supports another referendum but it wouldn't have be done immediately.
Both are seeking the nomination in the March 15 primary. The winner will move on to the November general election to challenge for the seat held for 20 years by Republican Bonnie Thomson Carter, who is not seeking re-election.
County board members also serve as forest preserve district commissioners and govern both. Responses are from candidate questionnaires, interviews and materials. District 5 is in the western part of the county and includes Fox Lake, Lakemoor, Volo and parts of Round Lake, Wauconda, Antioch and Lake Villa.
Charland, 59, is retired after 20 years working at a major terminal, most recently controlling commuter and freight traffic. She manages a family real estate business, teaches French and Spanish privately and is a volunteer with the Sierra Club, Clean Power Lake County and Livable Lake County. She said she would not accept a salary if elected.
Smith, 41, has served on the Fox Lake Elementary District 114 school board for eight years. He is an independent contractor delivering pharmaceuticals to drugstores, hospitals and medical offices.
A self-described environmental activist, Charland said voters have supported tax hikes to buy land in the past, but middle class families are struggling.
"I believe that open space protection is very important and so do the voters of Lake County. However, because of our high taxes, we must be as prudent as possible," she said. The district first should explore options to balance open space protection without raising taxes, she said.
However, she maintained land prices are relatively low and it is less expensive to protect open space than to develop it if funding is available.
"I believe that as the economy improves and home values continue to increase, then the forest preserve will be getting more funds," Charland said. "Certainly, I think we should look into all options."
Smith said he'd bring his experience as a public servant and knowledge working with budgets and groups to the county board, and will make it a priority to be in touch with residents. He said he would not immediately leave the school board if elected.
Should voters be asked to approve funding for land acquisition?
"I believe so. Open space is something that is important to me and I just want to make sure we have it for future generations to enjoy," Smith said.
He said he wanted to do more research of the district and study what land may be desired by constituents.
"It wouldn't have to be right away," he said of putting the question to voters. "I'd take an overall view of what we currently have, but at some point I'd like to get a referendum together."
In an unrelated matter, Smith said voters may also be willing to pay more in taxes to make tuition free at the College of Lake County.
"I would like to see hopefully the federal government pick that up - a piece of that - and go to our voters ... " he said. "We want our property values to continue to rise so we do want quality people to get higher education and stay in the area," and help improve the economy, he added.
Former board member Judy Martini of Fox Lake and attorney David Zipp and Denise Rotheimer, founder of Mothers on a Mission to Stop Violence and author of two victims rights bills, both of Ingleside, are running for the Republican nomination.