David Oppenheim: Candidate profile
Bio
Name: David Oppenheim
City: Vernon Hills
Office sought: Village Trustee
Age: 50
Family: wife Karen, daughters Hannah and Maya
Occupation: Pediatrician
Education: B.A. Chemistry, Phi Beta Kappa-Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
M.D. - Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
Civic involvement: Build Something Special organizer
Previous elected offices held: Trustee, Vernon Hills
Incumbent? Yes. If yes, when were you first elected? 2017
Website: n/a
Facebook: not yet
Twitter: definitely not
What are the most important issues facing your community and how do you intend to address them?
Despite the village's very sound financial status, tax generation from retail sales remains a concern. Specifically Hawthorn Mall is undergoing significant changes and its viability, as that of many other malls nationwide is under threat. The village staff, the village board and the mall owner, Centennial have been in conversations regarding future plans. We look forward to working together to maintain this facility as an important regional resource and landmark.
What makes you the best candidate for the job?
I'm a hard working, detail oriented, research and data driven individual. I communicate well with others and am always eager to help out in any way I can. I have enjoyed serving on the village board for the past two years and look forward to the opportunity to continue my service.
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.
A trustee should not only be a voice and advocate for the residents of the community but also someone who takes time to be as knowledgeable about the issues as possible. I make a great effort to research topics of discussion and am very thoughtful about my decisions. Additionally, I try to be proactive regarding issues and not just reactive. As an example, the village board recently passed ordinance changes, on my suggestion, regarding enhanced smoking restrictions and preventing dog and cat sales at pet stores.
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?
Vernon Hills continues to have a strong bottom line with significant sales tax revenues, a AAA bond rating, and well funded pensions. The village doesn't assess a property tax and doesn't intend to. We also have significant reserves which allow for the stellar bond rating but also could be drawn from in case of unforeseen downturn. This past year we instituted a 1% food and beverage tax, primarily to offset some of the reduced revenues from the state. We remain vigilant regarding further statewide changes that could potentially affect our sales tax revenue.
What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?
As mentioned earlier, I was instrumental in advancing our community's smoking restrictions. While we passed the age requirement to purchase tobacco and vaping products to 21 years last year, just recently I led the effort to further protections from second hand smoke. Now within the village there is no smoking allowed 25 feet from the entrance to a public building, as compared to the sstatewide15 foot restriction. More importantly, no smoking is allowed anywhere within 25 feet of where food is served. I have also proposed increasing the minimum age to possess tobacco and vaping products from 18 to 21 years. As a pediatrician, I have seen first hand the significant scourge of vaping in our youth. Some of my own young patients are already addicted. While some might consider raising the age of possession draconian and difficult to enforce, I feel that it is a necessary step that our community and others should take.