Mike Terson: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Mike Terson

City: Buffalo Grove

Office sought: Village President

Age: 48

Family: Wife, Nicole and son, Jack (14).

Occupation: Public Relations and Marketing Manager at the Buffalo Grove Park District

Education: Graduated from Buffalo Grove High School, AA from Harper College (Named Distinguished Alumni in 2013), BA from Northern Illinois University

Civic involvement: Member of the College of Lake County Southlake Campus Advisory Committee, Lake County YES (Youth Empowerment for Success) Coalition Board, the High School District 214 Alumni Council Board, the Buffalo Grove High School Parents Association, and volunteer as a mentor to 2 college students with the One Million Degrees program at Harper College.

Previous elected offices held: Village Trustee from 2011 - 2015

Incumbent? If yes, when were you first elected? No

Website: miketerson.com

Facebook: facebook.com/mikeforbgpresident

Twitter: @MikeTerson

Issue questions

What are the most important issues facing your community and how do you intend to address them?

The most important issues facing Buffalo Grove relate to a failing infrastructure, and how we are going to figure out how to increase revenue to pay for that, rather than borrow and/or tax increase our way out of it. A lot of people have the misperception that our revenue problem relates to empty storefronts; however, the reality is that it has to do with the low amount of sales tax revenue generated because of

the kind of retail we have (one third of all our retail sales comes from groceries). For example, a few years ago when the downtown project was being considered, Vernon Hills averaged around $409 in sales per capita, while Buffalo Grove averaged $173. Wheeling averaged $251, and Glenview averaged $310. If we went to 95 percent occupancy in our retail spaces (the northwest suburban average is approximately 87 percent, and we are currently around 89 percent), at our current average of $208 per square feet in sales, it would only be an additional $310,000 in sales tax revenue to the Village (hardly a game changer). But, if we increase our sales per square feet by 53 percent, the possible sales tax generated is $148,000,000. Economic development has been our biggest weakness for decades; and, it is by far the most important issue we need to address and correct. Until we attract the kind of retail, restaurants and entertainment that attract more people and generate higher sales tax revenue, we are never going to progress; and, we will continue to keep getting passed by neighboring communities like Wheeling. This is our most important issue; and, who we have in elected leadership positions, and how they are address it will determine whether or not we move in the right direction.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I learned a lot from both successes and failures when I was a trustee on the Village Board; and, I think those failures are just as much of an asset. It teaches you how to not be so myopic, and how to look at things from other people's perspective, as well as how to engage them in dialogue that is more conversation than argument. That is what I bring to the table more than anything - professionalism, the skill and ability to listen and communicate with people, and the energy and enthusiasm to do it throughout the community - in their neighborhoods, at coffee house gatherings, on social media - not just at Village hall. I bring a unique combination of experience in our local government, the determination and work ethic to get things done, and the leadership skills necessary to work with other elected officials, and be successful in that role.

Describe your leadership style and explain how you think that will be effective in producing actions and decisions with your village board or city council.

My leadership style is one of empowerment - giving people the resources and tools needed to be creative and successful in their roles, while giving them the credit for the success. This Board has a lot of talented people already, as well as potentially new ones running in the election. My leadership style will be centered around improving lines of communication between myself as Village President and each individual trustee, as well as working to create a culture that is less divided with political alliances.

How would you describe the condition of your community's budget, and what are the most important specific actions the town should take to assure providing the level of services people want?

I think the Village Manager, Finance Director and department heads have done a great job with what they have to work with; so, in that sense the condition is good. However, I think that much like medicine that masks symptoms but doesn't provide a cure, our budget is dealing with the short term appropriation of money, and not the long term issue of inefficient revenue streams. We can only mask the symptoms for so long by cutting or borrowing our way out of our issues. Eventually, our failing infrastructure issues are going to become such that we won't be able to temporarily mask our revenue problem anymore. And, as talented as our staff leadership is, it is the elected policymakers who are responsible for implementing the changes needed to change those revenue conditions.

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

I would like to see us bring a music festival to Buffalo Grove. The Arts Festival was well attended when it was here; and, while I'd like to also see that resurrected, I think a multiday live music festival would not only be well received by residents, but also increase revenue for the Village and area businesses. I have seen first hand how well residents respond and widely attend community events. I think the Village does a great job with things like BG Days, the Farmers Market, the Bike Rodeo, Public Works Touch A Truck, and the Fire Department Open House; but, I think we could do more. I also think that doing more large scale events delivers on the Village's strategic plan goal pertaining to community outreach.