Nicolle Grasse: Candidate For Arlington Heights Trustee

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — Ahead of the April 6 consolidated municipal elections, Arlington Heights Patch provided questionnaires to all candidates on the ballot.

Six candidates are vying for four four-year trustee seats on the Arlington Heights Village Board on Election Day. They include two incumbents (Richard Baldino and Jim Tinaglia) and four challengers (Jim Bertucci, Will Beiersdorf, Wendy Dunnington and Nicolle Grasse).

Mayor Thomas Hayes is running unopposed.

Arlington Heights Patch is publishing all responses submitted by candidates verbatim.

Nicolle Grasse

Age (as of Election Day)

54

Town/City of Residence

Arlington Heights

Office Sought

Village board or city council

Party Affiliation (if a partisan race)

Non partisan

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Clinical Pastoral Education
4+ units
Chicago Theological Seminary
Master of Divinity Degree
Elmhurst College
B.A. English Literature and Theology
University of Wisconsin-Madison
79 total credits

Occupation

Hospice Chaplain with VITAS Healthcare, 28 years

Campaign website

nicollegrasseforah.org

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

none

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing our community and Village board is the COVID-19 pandemic. The effects of COVID-19 trauma on us individually, communally and economically will bring challenges to our Village for many years to come. These challenges will require creative and comprehensive recovery plans from our board. As a hospice chaplain, I provide deep listening to the needs and concerns of others and I involve them in creating solutions that matter most. Hospice chaplains are often the first to address crises, conflicts and differences and our role is to work to find places of agreement and solutions. As a frontline healthcare worker, I have an ongoing leadership role in the human service needs and solutions during this pandemic. My skill set and experience is well suited to find creative and bold solutions for our community to successfully recover and come out stronger from this pandemic.

Do you support Black Lives Matter and what are your thoughts on the demonstrations held since the death of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake?

I never support any kind of violent demonstrations. I fully support the social movement of Black Lives Matter. With the recent public killings of George Floyd, Jacob Blake, Breonna Taylor and others, many Americans are now awakened to the pervasive, systemic and institutional racial inequities and disparities present throughout our nation. Black Lives Matter has brought many people together to call for social equality and justice in the face of racism.
For most of my life, I have actively worked for social justice issues as a clergy person and hospice chaplain. I will always speak up for what is right, for what is just. And I will do the same as your trustee. I will forever remember an experience more than 20 years ago as I was driving with a new hospice chaplain in training. We were pulled over in a neighboring community and asked who were and where we were going. We explained, showed our work badges, and were sent on our way. My coworker, who was a black Roman Catholic priest said, “It happens all the time, especially when I am with a white woman.” And this is just one of many stories why I fully support Black Lives Matter.

Do you think the current board has done enough to support racial equality, and if not, what specifically should be done to do so?

I fully support the board’s strategic priority to find new ways to embrace Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in our whole community. The recent hiring of the Kaleidoscope Consulting Group for an outside assessment of DEI issues in our Village is a good start to support racial equality and shows commitment to bring about transformative change for true inclusion and equity. I am hopeful that with the findings of the report and the corresponding actions by our board and our community, we can successfully work together to be more inclusive and welcoming for everyone.

What are your thoughts on the national and local coronavirus response? Do you favor measures such as limiting operation of non-essential businesses and restricting indoor/outdoor dining? And do you favor a local mask mandate?

As a healthcare worker I was enraged at the lack of an initial national response to COVID-19. Insufficient PPE and lack of a national plan and strategy made the coronavirus pandemic a nightmare and caused the deaths of far too many people. The resulting trauma for many will last a lifetime. Until we are on the other side of this pandemic, I favor following the constantly updated data and science to keep all of us safe. And now that the data and science continue to include the mask mandate and specific restrictions to businesses as best practices to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, I too support them.

What are your thoughts on the state and local coronavirus vaccine distribution, and how do you think local governments should work together to handle vaccine rollout?

The current struggle to find an appointment has caused much angst for many because we still do not have enough vaccine available on the national level. Once we finally have the needed vaccines, I support the current state plan to work with local health departments and providers to get the vaccines distributed to people in their communities as quickly as possible. Shared local government communication of vaccine location availability and ease in scheduling appointments would be of great help with the rollout to the most people as quickly as possible. Also, coordination among county and local governments to have mass vaccination locations would also assist with the current distribution concerns.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am running for Arlington Heights Village Trustee to bring a needed healthcare and human service voice to the board. Among the current board members and candidates, I am the only one with a healthcare worker background. As a hospice chaplain for almost 30 years, I bring a wealth of skills and experience responding to human needs and finding solutions. The recent global pandemic has highlighted our interconnectedness and the important role our local government services have to our social, physical and financial health and wellbeing. A healthcare and human service voice on the board is vital to ensuring our local government makes decisions that fully address the health, safety and welfare for all in our Village.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

There are many reasons to run for office, disappointment with current government is only one. I am running for Village board to bring a needed healthcare and human service voice to the Arlington Heights Village board. Among our current board members and candidates, I am the only one with a healthcare worker and human service background and expertise. One-size solutions rarely work and my healthcare and human service voice on the board will ensure additional solutions that fully address the health, safety and welfare for all in our Village.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Environmental: As trustee, my decision making will occur through the lens of urgent care for our earth. I will promote green initiatives at every opportunity such as improved walkability and biking options. I will advocate for community and Village collaboration in the care of trees, use of native landscape, and innovative options to increase recycling, composting and rain barrel opportunities. And I will support the increased use of clean renewable energy sources through solar panel use, additional electric car charging stations, and replacement of Village vehicles with green equipment. The important repair and replacement of our water and sewer infrastructure is a top environmental priority for our health and maintaining property values. Arlington Heights has been ranked as one of the most livable small cities in the US and an increased Village commitment to clean renewable energy and green initiatives will ensure we remain livable and sustainable for future generations.
Inclusion: Our Mayor and Village Board have prioritized efforts to embrace diversity, equity and inclusion in our village. Even so, many residents have asked the village to do more to foster an increased sense of safety and belonging for all residents. These concerns combined with a lack of affordable housing and other working family needs excludes many people in our village. As a hospice chaplain and clergy person I have committed my life to being a voice for those who are most vulnerable and marginalized. I have devoted my life to work for a more just and equitable world. I am knowledgeable, experienced and seasoned in the issues surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion. As a trustee I will bring this same commitment to ensuring that all in our community have the freedom to participate fully and feel welcome. I love that our village motto is “City of Good Neighbors”. My many years of active involvement working for inclusion will help ensure we live our Village motto.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I am an ordained minister in the UCC denomination with a deep commitment to public service and justice through my 28 years in healthcare as a hospice chaplain. I have many years of legislative government experience through my volunteer work at the federal, state and local levels in areas of healthcare and justice issues. I am co-chair of a biomedical ethics committee and a core member of an industry-mandated Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement committee. I have spent my entire professional career with the same hospice and have received multiple awards at the local, regional and national level for my role as a chaplain. Within our community of Arlington Heights, I am a member of the Congregational UCC, the League of Women Voters and I am a deputy registrar for Cook County. I have been a Girl Scout co-leader and I remain actively involved in many grassroots organizations that work for democracy and justice in all forms. Throughout my personal and professional life, I have been an advocate for doing what is right, for what benefits the greater good and I will do the same for our Village as your trustee. I have committed my life to the service of others, and I want to continue this public service to be a responsible voice for all in the social and fiscal decisions for our Village with the goal of enhanced quality of life and continued growth for us all.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?

For Arlington Heights to be a community leader in innovative and creative ways we find to embrace and respond to our changing world, especially through green initiatives, affordability and inclusion.

Why should voters trust you?

I am honest and I follow through on my responsibilities and commitments. When I make a mistake, I apologize and do my best to correct the situation. I have been an active member and co-chair of an ethics committee in my professional life and I will bring this same commitment to ethics in all areas of decision making as your trustee. I will make decisions within an ethical framework to ensure integrity, equity and fairness in our local government.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the use of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

I embrace fiscal responsibility. I believe our taxes must always be used responsibly and in ways that best provide for the health, safety and welfare of our community at large. Seeking alternative revenue sources will be my primary strategy for minimizing the need to increase the Village property tax levy. Any increase in property taxes will only be a final option. Within my healthcare role, our services must be provided within a certain government mandated rate. This necessitates a careful, considered and responsible use of resources. I fully commit to this same kind of responsible financial decision making for the common good of our residents and businesses.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

None. When I commit to something I follow through.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

If you’re not sure what to do in a given situation, always ask yourself, “What would the world be like if everyone did this?” If the answer is good thing, do it. If it is not, don’t.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am an optimistic and hope filled person who approaches decisions with a growth mindset. In every decision that affects others I always ask myself, “Who benefits?” I believe strongly in the power of community and that when people work together all things are possible. I believe local government decisions most affect our everyday lives, and my goal is to do the greatest amount of good for the most people and businesses as your trustee. We are living in rapidly changing world, the myriad challenges and economic concerns due to the pandemic, the urgent need to address climate change and the move to be a more inclusive community calls our Village to be creative and bold in the ways we respond to these changes starting now. COVID-19 has highlighted our interconnectedness and how what happens to one, affects all. Our Village motto tells us we are a “city of good neighbors” I want to bring my healthcare and human service voice to provide creative and bold solutions that ensure we live our motto and have a bright future for all of us together.