Gina DeBoni: Candidate For Glenview Trustee

GLENVIEW, IL — Ahead of the April 6 consolidated municipal elections, Glenview Patch provided questionnaires to all candidates on the ballot.

Six candidates are vying for four four-year trustee seats on the Glenview Village Board on Election Day. They are Paul Brancky, Gina DeBoni, Tim Doron, Sheri Latash, Adam Sidoti and Cathy Wilson. Current trustees John Hinkamp, Karim Khoja, Mike Jenny and Deborah Karton are not running for reelection. Jenny is running unopposed for Village President with current President Jim Patterson also choosing not to run for reelection.

DeBoni, Doron and Sidoti are running on behalf of the Unite Glenview party. Brancky, Latash and Wilson are running on behalf of the Glenview Next party.

Glenview Patch is publishing all responses submitted by candidates verbatim.

Gina DeBoni

Age (as of Election Day)

45

Town/City of Residence

Glenview

Office Sought

Village board or city council

Party Affiliation (if a partisan race)

Unite Glenview

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My brother-in-law is an Assistant State's Attorney in Cook County.

Education

J.D./Chicago Kent College of Law, B.A./University of Iowa

Occupation

Attorney, Admitted in Illinois 2002

Campaign website

www.uniteglenview.org

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Indian Ridge Homeowner's Association Board President, Glenview

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 board is the need to enhance communication and transparency in process. While the board certainly makes efforts in this regard, we can always strive to do better. Every resident should feel that their voice matters because it does - all voices matter. Providing advanced digestible summaries of upcoming agenda items is one way to enhance communication. Increased engagement with the community and an open dialogue will go a long way toward furthering public trust in our elected officials.

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?

The tragic death of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake shook this nation to its core. Every person in this country deserves all of the protections afforded by our constitution. We must do better- we need not only hear each other, but really listen to each other. The impact of these tragic events were felt locally and around our state and nation. We must treat ALL people with dignity, respect and compassion. As Trustee, I will work towards inclusion and not exclusion, and for providing a safe and welcoming community for all who wish to live in Glenview regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation.

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 am proud of our Village's efforts to achieve diversity in its hiring practices. However, we should always look for ways to better promote and support racial, cultural, socio-economic, and gender equality in our community. Continued communication is essential to achieving this goal.

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?

We must do everything we can to stop the spread of Covid-19 and that includes wearing a mask in public. There has never been a time that our individual actions have had such an impact on others' health and well-being.
In Glenview, we have an incredible and vibrant restaurant community. I am proud that our board passed measures to help struggling restaurants. As we enter into a recovery mode in this pandemic, it will be important to continue to find ways to support our local businesses.

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?

It has been challenging for many to navigate the appointment scheduling process. I think there is an opportunity to work collaboratively with other local municipalities to coordinate vaccine rollout at a central location and make it easy for residents to locate and schedule their vaccines. It is vitally important to our community that local, state and national governments coordinate their efforts in vaccine distribution.

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

Unite Glenview brings a breadth of experience to the table, which includes law and traffic engineering, along with fresh new ideas coupled with the institutional knowledge that Mike Jenny brings to the table as our Presidential candidate. Unite Glenview offers greater diversity on the board, both geographically and as parents of school-aged children. If elected, we will have a board that is geographically diverse and will have at least three members with school-aged children on board. Upcoming issues relating to development and housing will have an impact on our schools. Unite Glenview candidates are better suited to provide diversity in thought to our Board.

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

We are in a unique position as a village that ALL candidates are brand new. There are no incumbents running for re-election for the Trustee positions. Our current board has done an incredible job keeping our taxes low, funding the pensions for our first responders, and maintaining green initiatives. I strongly believe that we can do better with community engagement and encouraging our residents to be part of the process. Residents need to feel that their voices are heard.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Issues that define our platform are improving village communications with residents, maintaining fiscal integrity while delivering high quality services, developing policies to recruit and retain desired retail, effective management of redevelopment and growth- ensuring due process for all parties, exploring the implementation of a "preliminary review" of developments having a significant impact on our community, obtaining community wide input relating to affordable housing, and promoting environmental and green programs.

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

As the Managing Partner of a well-respected law firm, I oversee the operations of our firm, which includes strong financial stewardship. Additionally, as the Indian Ridge Homeowner's Association Board president, I am engaged with local issues germane to our community. I recently earned the Stevie Award for Female Executive of the Year, Consumer Services, and was named to the Notable Women in Law list by Crain's Chicago Business in 2020. This year, I was honored to receive the ISBA Elmer Gertz Human Rights award for my work in helping to pass legislation to provide a legal course of action for children who have been trafficked online. When the law was not working, we worked to change the law. I will bring my passion to help others and serve our community through our Village Board.

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

During the course of this campaign, I have met so many residents with such incredible energy and ideas. I hope to engage and involve all of our incredible residents in our Village. Creating clear messaging and communication is a goal that I will continue to strive for. Additionally, I would love to identify opportunities to closely collaborate with the Glenview Chamber of Commerce and Friends of Downtown.

Why should voters trust you?

As a lawyer, we hold our clients' confidences every day. Trust in our elected officials is absolutely essential to good government. I may not always know the answer, or it may be that we disagree on an outcome, but I am committed to being transparent in my thought process and engage in respectful discussion.

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

As an elected Trustee, we must be fiscal stewards for our community and maintain a balanced budget.

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

No. I plan to serve my full term if elected.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Be the change you want to see in the world.

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

Spending 30 years of my life in Glenview, I strongly believe there is no better community to live. As trustee, I will bring my passion, steadfast commitment to helping others, and love of our community to our board.