Rachael Rezek: 2023 Candidate for Grayslake Village Board

Bio

Town: Grayslake

Age on Election Day: 48

Occupation: District Director

Employer: Office of State Senator Mary Edly-Allen

Previous offices held: President, Grayslake Area Public Library

Q&A

Q: What is the most serious issue your community will face in the coming years and how should the city council or village board respond to it?

A: Grayslake's most pressing issue remains our property tax burden. While the village itself is only responsible for 5% of our property tax bills, every decision the village board makes directly influences the taxes levied by other units of government, since the village is solely responsible for reviewing and approving any new commercial and residential development that takes place. The village needs to ensure that development decisions are evaluated based on the long-term costs and benefits to the village in its entirety, including what it will do to our tax burden over several decades. The village should work closely with our peers, so that we speak as one voice for a solution at the state level that will ensure a permanent solution to this ongoing, slow-moving crisis. In particular, the village needs to join the school boards in pushing for a solution to the structural problems with school funding, moving the burden from local property owners to the state, as is done in most states.

Q: How would you describe the state of your community's finances?

A: Grayslake has worked hard to make prudent financial decisions, paying for projects as they are done and making sure that infrastructure is maintained and replacements and repairs are planned from. This careful approach is smart, and is something I would insist we continue. The specific needs of our community are always changing, as we have seen, and it is essential that our finances are solid, stable, and sustainable.

Q: What should be the three top priorities for spending in your community during the next four years?

A: In addition to ongoing priorities such as economic development, I believe the key spending priorities for the near term are improvements in our infrastructure. Solar installations on village buildings are an important investment that will reduce costs and improve our environmental footprint. Similarly, stormwater management is an ongoing issue that will require thoughtful and carefully crafted solutions.

Q: Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed? If so, what are they?

A: I believe that it is important to regularly review spending priorities, so that funds for programs and services that are no longer relevant or necessary can be redirected to new priorities. Knowing when to sunset a program or service is as essential as knowing when to invest in one. An area I am certain needs to be addressed is the matter of the brick crosswalks on Center Street. They are beautiful and add charm to our business district, but there are other ways to create atmosphere and eye appeal that do not require routine replacement.

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

A: One area we need to improve is our plan for solar additions to village-owned properties. The timeline for adding solar should be accelerated so we do not forgo rebates, grants, and utility cost savings. As President of the library board, we have already seen significant savings on utility bills due to the addition of solar panels, and that has helped us adjust to inflation in other areas over the past year. The village should accelerate the timing of these projects. Stormwater management is similarly important for Grayslake. The village needs to work with neighboring communities, the county, and the state to address this problem in a holistic way, as each year we see more frequent and extreme flooding. Planning and investment now will mitigate the destruction in the future. Similarly, changes to how we maintain village land, such as incorporating a mix of native plants on the rights-of-way on village streets, would reduce mowing and maintenance costs and reduce flooding.

Q: Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach agreement and manage local government? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board or city council.

A: As a member of the Grayslake Library Board, my focus has been on creating and implementing responsible policies that serve the needs of the community and staff. I believe leaders listen first, and this is especially important when creating policies, since effective policy is built on a clear understanding of the issue. With that as a foundation, it is much easier to have productive conversations about the policy we are considering, and can evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, and potential costs, and decide as a board if the policy adequately addresses our needs, or if it should be held for further research and discussion. This approach has led to me being elected President of the Grayslake Library Board by my peers.

Q: What makes you the best candidate for the job?

A: I believe I am the best candidate for this office for several reasons. I am a strategic thinker who focuses on outcomes; I can offer a fresh perspective on the village while also being a proven community leader; and I value listening over speaking, so residents know I will value their input as part of my decision making.

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

A: One thing I have observed while on the library board is that service to the community is an important way to build relationships with our neighbors. Some of our neighboring communities offer residents opportunities for direct community involvement in volunteer work, which helps strengthen ties within the community. I would like to initiate something similar to the A-MAY-zing Mundelein program, where once a year in May the community gathers together to volunteer around the village, helping seniors and local non-profits with projects while getting to know their neighbors.