Editor's note --This is the last in
a series of profiles of candidates for Buffalo Grove Village Board
positions. Candidates for Village Trustee will be featured first
followed by candidates for Village President. All candidates received
the same questionnaire. Their answers appear verbatim without any added
editorial comments or interpretation. This is done so readers can read
direct answers from each candidate. Profiles will be posted in
alphabetical order.
--- Stan Zoller, Content Coordinator, Buffalo Grove News and Information.
Candidate's name
Mike Terson
Candidate for:
Village Board President
How long have you lived in Buffalo Grove?
This time around, since 2005
Please provide brief background
information.
I graduated from Buffalo Grove High
School in 1988, and since moving back to the community, have worked at the Park
District and served on many community organizations.
Have you served on a village committee or
commission before? If yes, which one and how long did you serve?
Yes - 50th Anniversary Commission for
3 years
What other civic
activities, if any, have you been involved with?
I served on the Link Together
Coalition Executive Board. I currently volunteer on the Lake County Youth
Empowerment for Success Coalition Board, the College of Lake County Southlake
Campus Advisory Council, the High School District 214 Alumni Council Board, the
Buffalo Grove High School Parents Association, and I volunteer as a mentor to 2
college students with the One Million Degrees program at Harper College.
Why are you running for a Village Board
position?
To bring better and a more modern
style of leadership to our community.
In general, what do you
see as the most pressing issues facing Buffalo Grove?
Increasing revenue, so that we can
pay for the needs of a failing infrastructure, while continuing to provide a
high level of service. Improving how we accomplish economic development is how
we will accomplish that.
There has been considerable discussion for years
about economic development in the village. What kind of economic development
(retail, commercial, industrial) do you think should be a priority and
why?
Industrial is successful; so, while
it's not unimportant, it's not a "priority" that needs our focus
right now. Retail/commercial is the issue and high priority. Why? Because we
only generate $208 per square foot in retail sales. We need economic
development to double that number. Until we change that number, we are running
up the down escalator.
Which business development plan do you think
should be a priority? Lake-Cook Road corridor, Dundee Road, Milwaukee Avenue or
the Prairie View concept?
I think they are all important; but,
the Lake-Cook Road corridor is the priority because it has the potential to be
the game changer that has the biggest impact on how the other corridors get
redeveloped. That being said, the Dundee Road corridor is right there too,
because it is in such bad need of redevelopment. The car dealerships have got
to be redeveloped; we cannot wait on that.
How do you think the village should encourage
redevelopment of existing retail areas that are struggling?
The short answer is economic
incentives. But I also think there is opportunity for the elected leader of the
community to create better relationships with commercial property owners.
Sometimes it's those little things, like open communication and networking that
get things going.
Should the village limit development to preserve
green space?
No. Here's why... We already exceed
the recommendation by the federal government on the amount of usable
recreational open space for the size and population of our community. And, with
the federally required increase in water storage capacity (20%) to develop the
only "green space" in question, doing a project there would actually
increase the amount of usable recreational open space in the community even
more. That doesn't mean I am unilaterally in favor of developing the golf
course just to develop the golf course; it would have to be the right project
that would significantly and positively impact our community and quality of
life. But, if I am answering the direct question, the need to limit is not
there.
Some of our volunteer groups (commissions,
committees) have seen shrinking membership. What would you do to engage the
community on a broader scale? What would you do to encourage broader
demographic participation?
I will look to engage the community
in the places they engage, not wait for them to come to Village Hall or fill
out a form. My plan is to be everywhere often, as well as accessible on social
media. The role of a Village President is different than that of a trustee. I
will bring that role to a new level of engagement with residents.
There is a proposal to add a "Community
Engagement Director" to the village staff. Do you think it is needed?
Explain why or why not.
While I don't think it is
"needed," I am not convinced that it is a bad idea either. This is
definitely something I want to discuss further with both the staff and Village
Board. I definitely don't think it would be fair for me to criticize it from
the outside as a candidate. I think it's a valid concept that has merit and
needs to be looked at and discussed. From experience, I know that not every
position within an organization is easily quantified on paper; however, I also
know that there are a lot of roles within an organization that significantly
impact the success of those positions that are easily quantified. I think this
situation calls for patience, due diligence, asking relevant questions,
followed by logical decision making.
Do you think the Village communicates well with
residents? If not, how can it be improved?
Yes, and I think it can always be
improved as well. As technology advances, so are ways to communicate. I love
that our Village staff are so proactive in finding these ways to improve
communication, and I look forward to being an asset to them in achieving those
goals.
Final thoughts -- Add any information or
comments about your candidacy.
There is no logical reason why
residents of a community with the kind of median income, average education
level, highly rated schools, beautiful parks, and number of existing homes with
high property values should have to go to other towns to spend their money when
they want to shop or dine in nice restaurants. With the exception of groceries,
we are constantly leaving Buffalo Grove to spend our money. And, our reward for
going to these other towns to spend money is higher property taxes. I want to
change that; and, I have a plan to do it.