Jeremy Boynton: 2021 candidate for Glen Ellyn Village Board

Four candidates are squaring off for three, 4-year seats on Glen Ellyn Village Board in the April 6 election.

Jeremy Boynton, 49, a self-employed investment adviser, is an independent candidate. Incumbent Gary Fasules and newcomers Anne M. Gould and Kelley M. Kalinich are members of the Civic Betterment Party.

The Daily Herald asked the candidates several questions about issues facing the village.

Below are Boynton's responses.

In-person early voting with paper ballots began Feb. 25 at DuPage County Fairgrounds Building 5, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton. In-person early voting with touch-screen voting begins March 22 at locations throughout the county. Learn more at www.dupageco.org/earlyvoting/.

Bio

Town: Glen Ellyn

Age: 49

Occupation: Self-employed investment adviser

Civic involvement: Founder and organizer of the men's community group Glen Ellyn Boathouse Party

Q&A

Q: How do you view your role in confronting the pandemic: provide leadership even if unpopular, give a voice to constituents — even ones with whom you disagree, or defer to state and federal authorities?

A: Glen Ellyn needs independent leadership. The same small group of people, the Civic Betterment organization, have been running local Glen Ellyn politics for decades. I am running as an independent. And am not beholden to their political agenda.

Re the pandemic, we need to do two things: 1.) Implement best practices in our community to mitigate the spread of the disease. We need to be willing to adapt as new information/data becomes available. 2.) Implement policies to help local businesses survive. Such as utilizing more outdoor tent structures for restaurants, even through winter. It is about our health AND the economy. They are both important!

Q: Did your town continue to adequately serve its constituents during the disruptions caused by the pandemic? If so, please cite an example of how it successfully adjusted to providing services. If not, please cite a specific example of what could have been done better.

A: Glen Ellyn started well in responding to the pandemic. And they initially successfully adapted along the way as things changed. My only criticism might be that outdoor tent seating came down too early in the fall. Local restaurants are barely surviving. Those should have stayed up longer. Many towns in the Chicago suburbs are still utilizing them even today.

Q: In light of our experiences with COVID-19, what safeguards/guidelines should you put in place to address any future public health crises?

A: I believe it would be a mistake to implement broad policy mandates for future public health crises based on COVID-19. There will always be “unknown unknowns” in future crises. And government bureaucracy is notorious for contributing to the next crisis by overreacting to the last one.

Citizens in our community should be able to trust thoughtful leadership from their trustees to respond in real time to the demands of whatever crisis confronts us. My passion is to do exactly that — provide thoughtful, independent leadership as a village trustee.

Q: What cuts can local government make to reduce the burden of the pandemic on taxpayers?

A: I don't believe the burden of the pandemic can be reduced by spending cuts. Rather, I believe some thoughtful increased expenditures could be efficiently made to help reduce the burden.

An example would be the addition of outdoor tent capacity for local restaurants. However, there is definitely a time and place to consider spending cuts. As a village trustee candidate, my brand promises to Glen Ellyn are to be “Socially Compassionate. And Fiscally Responsible.” Sometimes fiscal responsibility means thoughtfully increasing expenditures. Other times it means thoughtfully reducing them.

It will take discernment from village leadership to know when to cut and when to spend . As an independent, nonpartisan trustee, I look forward to bringing openhanded and openhearted discernment and courage to this very important discussion.

Q: What do you see as the most important infrastructure project you must address? Why and how should it be paid for? Conversely, during these uncertain economic times, what infrastructure project can be put on the back burner?

A: Parking in downtown Glen Ellyn is definitely one of the most urgent infrastructure needs for our community. The vibrancy of our local downtown business district can be dramatically enhanced if we solve this problem. Of course, there is construction underway currently to alleviate this strain.

Regarding the second question, I do not believe it would serve the community of Glen Ellyn well to put any infrastructure project “on the back burner.” Rather, we should be encouraging thoughtful development that also is respectful to the architectural heritage and “vibe” of our awesome community. Glen Ellyn needs to move forward. Not backward.

As an independent trustee, I look forward to championing this cause.

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the stance your board/council has taken on permitting recreational marijuana sales in the community? What would you change about that stance, if you could?

A: The import of most scientific research re recreational marijuana is quite conclusive: it is damaging to brain development and mental health in adolescents. However, it is also quite conclusive in finding that marijuana has significant positive health benefits for adults.

In fact, marijuana is likely more healthy than having a glass of bourbon (which I happen to like!). All of this might be used as an argument in favor of the current stance of Glen Ellyn leadership to NOT allow marijuana sales inside our community.

However, paradoxically, this disallowance creates a well known, easily accessible “black market.” In truth, marijuana is ubiquitously available among our teenage population. One could make the case that our non-allowance has created this “black market.”

Taking this further, legalizing the sale of marijuana inside our community might destroy that black market. Thus, potentially reducing the consumption of marijuana by our teenage population.

This is a complicated discussion. I have no firmly entrenched position. And I am open minded about seeking out thoughtful solutions.

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

A: Five years ago, I founded and organized a monthly event called “Glen Ellyn Boathouse Party.” We meet on the second Thursday of every month at the Glen Ellyn Boathouse. No political or religious agenda. Just guys (over 21 years of age) getting together to eat steak, talk about life, and enjoy a favorite beer/wine/bourbon. As men, we thrive on community. But we mostly suck at making that happen! We created this event as an attempt to change that. Over the past 5 years, we have developed friendships and a real sense of community. COVID made it necessary to suspend this gathering temporarily. I am looking forward to restarting it as soon as it is safe to do so. We all need community. Now more than ever.