Republican Carlson to seek reelection to Lake County Board
Longtime Lake County Board member Steve Carlson is running for another term.
The Republican from Grandwood Park, who was has served on the board since 2002. recently announced on Facebook that he will be seeking re-election to the 7th District seat in the November 2020 election. District 7 covers portions of Gurnee, Third Lake and surrounding unincorporated areas.
"This is who I am. This is what I do," Carlson said of the decision.
Carlson and his GOP colleagues now sit in the minority on the board after a historic election last November put Democrats in control for the first time in Lake County history.
"As we are all aware, the political climate on the national, state and local level has become problematic, at best," Carlson said in his announcement.
"I believe that there is a need for those of use who are willing to listen to both sides, who are willing to respect other's points of view, who treat their colleagues and their constituents with the respect that they deserve," he added.
He cited a successful initiative to make Lake County smoke free, his unsuccessful fight against video gambling, development of a "financially sane, reasonable alternative" to the proposed extension of Route 53 into Lake County and fight to save the Winchester House nursing home as points of pride during his time on the board.
A 211 Crisis Hot Line for all county human services and crisis care center to allow law enforcement to deal with those who shouldn't be in jail or hospital emergency rooms are pending projects he says makes the job "rewarding beyond measure."
Carlson said he has never used "attack" pieces in his five successful campaigns and won't do so in this one either.
"I'm proud of my record and will run on it," he said.
Carlson could face Democrat Carissa Casbon, a Warren Township resident and president of the Millburn Elementary District 24 school board, in the general election. In her announcement, Casbon said she will focus on fiscal responsibility, transparency and ethics reform.