Elaine Jacoby: Candidate For Deerfield Trustee

DEERFIELD, IL — Ahead of the April 4 consolidated municipal elections, Deerfield Patch provided questionnaires to all candidates on the ballot.

Three seats on the Deerfield Village Board will be up for grabs on Election Day. Four candidates will be on the ballot for a four-year seat, according to Deerfield Deputy Village Clerk Daniel Van Dusen.

The current terms of trustees Larry Berg, Elaine Jacoby and Bill Seiden all end in April. The three are seeking reelection as part of the Deerfield Village Caucus 2023 slate. The trio will be challenged for the spots by independent Christopher M. Goodsnyder.

Patch is publishing all responses submitted by candidates verbatim.

Elaine Jacoby

Age (as of Election Day)

56

Town/City of Residence

Deerfield

Office Sought

Village trustee

Party Affiliation

N/A

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

I earned my undergraduate degree in Radio/Television/Film from Northwestern University in 1988. I returned to the land of purple and white for a Master’s Degree in Communications from Northwestern University in 1997.

Occupation

Over the past three decades, I have worked in the public relations and marketing communications industries; some of the companies include Kraft Foods, Hewitt and Associates and Ameritech. While I was working at various marketing agencies, my clients included Jim Beam Brands, Ore-Ida Potatoes and NutraSweet.

I currently manage multi-unit residential properties in Chicago. In addition, I am a docent at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center. I conduct half day field trips for middle and high school students as well as conduct VIP tours for the CEO and Board of Trustees.

Campaign website

N/A

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

• Current Village Trustee 2021-
• Plan Commissioner 2007-2021
• Deerfield Comprehensive Plan 2003-2004
• Greenhouse Gas Committee 2022

I see two big challenges for our village –

1. Keeping the town vibrant by attracting/retaining businesses. As we have seen in recent years, this is easier said than done. Most retailers prefer an online presence vs a brick and mortar facility (B&M). While B&M is not dead, it has morphed. Stores have smaller footprints and tend to be more focused on a wide array of products and services. I think this positions Deerfield well; we may not have limitless space, but we do have great demographics, a desirable location and a robust set of businesses in and around town. We, as the Board of Trustees, need to constantly adapt our municipal codes and work effieciently to keep Deerfield attractive to potential and current developers and businesses.

2. Our town is, literally, old. Our infrastructure is aging. We have to prioritize and monitor our roads, bridges and water lines, offering timely improvements/replacements. That is no small challenge; we need to be savvy with budgeting and spending. And, we need to continue to take advantage of federal grants for the various projects, for exampleDeerfield Road reconstruction and the Kates Road Bridge reconstruction projects which we utilized over a $1 million in federal grants.

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

I am a highly qualified candidate for Trustee due to my diverse experience in local government. I was instrumental in creating the Deerfield Comprehensive Plan (2004) - the guide for land use, transportation, public facilities, and natural resources which is currently used by village administrators, elected officials, and developers. In addition, I have served 14 years as a Plan Commissioner plus my current two-year term as a Deerfield Trustee. My passion for the community combined with the broad set of skills and knowledge I acquired through my 17 years of service, and the pragmatic view I bring from my 23+ years in Deerfield, hopefully make me a unique asset to our local government, and well positioned to achieve results.

My Plan Commission experience prepared me for land use issues that regularly come before the Board of Trustees. The learning curve during my first year as a Trustee was humbling, but the time I put into this process has paid off. I feel confident in saying that I am up to speed on all of the issues we face as a Board. Finally, I have allocated the substantial time that is needed to be an effective Board Member and commit to do the same going forward.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Having been a Deerfield resident for almost 24 years, I would like to see a more vibrant local economy and the continued nurturing of our social and community bonds. We need to continue to attract diverse businesses (corporations, office developments, restaurants and retail) and diverse people to our village. To some, Deerfield is a place to raise their families. To others, it is a place to shop and dine. There is no reason it can’t be both to an even wider range of people.

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

I am proud of my volunteer history within our community, and so incredibly grateful for the opportunities I found here, so close to home as my young family grew. I count among my most notable contributions the Deerfield Comprehensive Plan, which I helped author. The document that is still in use today by village administrators, elected officials, and developers, and serves as a guide for land use, transportation planning and Deerfield’s development growth. In addition, I offer my strong record of commitment as a Plan Commissioner for 14 years.

Currently, I am serving a 2-year term as a Deerfield Trustee, on the slate of the Deerfield Caucus endorsed candidates. The other evidence I offer is less tangible but comes from the heart: as a native of the north shore, I chose this town as my family’s home, and count that as one of the best decisions I ever made. I very much want to help Deerfield continue to rise and meet its potential.

Why should voters trust you?

I hope my record of involvement within local government speaks for itself (current Trustee, Plan Commissioner, Committee on Deerfield Comprehensive Plan, Greenhouse Gas Commission, Deerfield Caucus), as well as other volunteer positions within the Deerfield school system (Vice President Kipling PTO, Vice President Shepard PTO and other PTO chair positions, member of district 109 school board caucus 5 years, member of Save Our Schools Committee), and the town (Pegasus Soccer and DYBA softball coach 5 years, Chair of DYBA Softball league 2 years). I also cherish my role as a docent at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, where I feel so fortunate, I am able to work with students from 3rd- 12th grades.

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

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

One of the most important duties of the Village Board is to oversee the budget. We must ensure that tax dollars are spent responsibly and seek to utilize federal grant programs to offset spending. In addition, we need to maintain our town’s AAA bond rating as this ultimately reduces our borrowing costs.

I believe in being fiscally conservative, which sometimes requires spending in the near term to forego larger expenditures in the future. Repairing an aging piece of infrastructure now, often saves much higher expenditures in the near future. I have worked closely with our town’s Manager and his team, and I have seen the knowledge and dedication and commitment this team brings. As a Trustee, I believe it is critical to maintain this already strong relationship and ensure we are equipping our town’s management and staff to plan and execute on the areas they have demonstrated great capabilities in.

Do you support the Illinois assault weapons ban, and would you support a local assault weapons ban in this community?

I fully support the Illinois assault weapons ban that Governor Pritzker signed into law earlier this year.

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

I fully support racial equality and I do believe the board has been supportive. I believe our town has built an environment that is welcoming and allows all races, genders, and ethnicities to excel – starting with our excellent school system to the law enforcement actions and initiatives.

One outgrowth of the BLM that I personally do not agree with is the call to “defund the police.” Our law enforcement has made our community safe and does all in its power to be proactive to make us all secure. We already employee 2 social workers to address the needs of the community, providing immediate crisis intervention and referral services. Moreover, our social workers provide training and oversight with our police force to ensure they are equipped to handle all types of situations

Do you support the SAFE-T Act? Why or why not?

This is not an issue that comes before the Deerfield Village Board.

What are your thoughts on the crime rate in your community, and what more can be done to combat crime — especially violent crime — in town?

Thankfully, Deerfield is a safe community. I am proud to say that our Chief of Police and the entire force is one of the strongest in the state. Year in and year out, I have witnessed our officers work hard within the community to maintain the safety and security of all residents and businesses.

What is your view of the city's/village's approach to commercial and residential development?

Because Deerfield is relatively fully developed, we are always looking for areas to make improvements and updates. It is important to maintain a vibrant downtown as well as balance the mix of residential home offerings between single-family, multi-family and multi-use developments at all different price points.

When it comes to development, what are some key areas for improvement or additions you feel are most wanted by residents? What will need to be done to make this happen?

I am always asking, and more importantly listening to the residents of Deerfield regarding their wants and needs in our community. I think this has to be a top priority of any Board Member. With every new development opportunity that comes before the Board, we have to weigh factors that are often in conflict with each other: the impact on compatibility and traffic with the existing area, the effect on the neighborhood, whether the lot size is sufficient and if there is adequate buffering and parking. Every new possible addition or redevelopment has to be comprehensively studied from all aspects.

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

There is nothing (other than health or family) that would keep me from serving my 4 year term as a Trustee.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

My dad gave me the best advice I have ever received, and I have passed this down to my both my son and daughter – Don’t try to be great; instead try to do great things for our world.

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

Having been a resident of Deerfield for 24 years, I am proud of our town, but recognize we cannot rest on these laurels. The future of our Deerfield depends on our ability to adapt and pivot, as needed. Yes, I have learned move than I ever expected to know about zoning and infrastructure. But equally as important, I learned how to listen and compromise. I have the passion and experience needed for the Deerfield Board of Trustees. I would like to continue my work as a trustee for the next 4 years (at the very least!)