Rachael Rezek: Candidate For Grayslake Village Board

GRAYSLAKE, IL — There are six candidates vying for four open seats on the Grayslake Village Board this upcoming election.

Five candidates are looking to fill three full-term seats on the village board. Incumbents Kevin Waldenstrom, who has served on the village board since 2009, and Elizabeth Davies, who was first elected as a trustee in 2014, will be seeking re-election. Meanwhile, newcomers Kathleen Wasik and Rachel Rezek are looking to join the village board, and Shawn Vogel, who served on the board from 2005 to 2021, is also vying for a seat.

Pradip Sahu will run unopposed for a a two-year unexpired trustee position. Sahu was appointed to the village board last year after former trustee, Adam Shores, stepped down from his post when his family decided to move from Grayslake to Libertyville.

Patch.com has been collecting candidate's responses from questionnaires sent out for all those running for election. Here are the responses we received from Rezek:

Your Name: Rachael Rezek

Age (as of Election Day): 48

Town/City of Residence: Grayslake

Office sought: Village board

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're running for.

Niece is an officer in the Coast Guard

Education: Masters of Library and Information Science, UW-Milwaukee; BA in Archaeology and Classics, George Washington University

Occupation. Please include years of experience.

Public librarian, 15 years
District director, State of Illinois (current)

Campaign Website:

facebook.com/voteforrachael

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

President, Grayslake Library Board of Trustees

The most pressing issues facing our (board, district, etc.) are _______, and this is what I intend to do about them.

Grayslake's most pressing issue remains our property tax burden. When talking to residents, that is the issue that people identify as having the greatest impact on their households. The village board influences the taxes levied by the schools, library, etc, 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, focusing on the effect on our long term tax burden. In addition to ensuring that development is approached in a strategic way, we also need to work closely with our fellow elected officials at the library, schools, and neighboring communities to push the state for a permanent solution to our tax problems, and I have well-established relationships with both our state and local elected officials which will be beneficial.

Additionally, many residents have expressed concern about their ability to remain in Grayslake as their families grow and change, and the village has a vested interest in attracting developers who want to invest in our young families, empty nesters, and seniors. We need to make sure that the people who have built their lives in Grayslake can remain here.

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

I have demonstrated an ability to listen to what people say, and to deliver on any promises I make to address their concerns.

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

I hesitate to use the word “failed" as we are conditioned to be nice, but I believe the decision making process related to the Casey’s gas station vote is very informative. Public outcry was dismissed, and the message Grayslake residents were consistently given (by all but one Trustee or Zoning Board member) was that our board feels powerless to have any meaningful say on the approval process, regardless of what our village code states. That seems to run counter to the entire purpose of local government.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

The village should accelerate the timing for adding solar panels so we do not forgo rebates, grants, and utility cost savings.

Stormwater management is also important for Grayslake, and we should work with neighboring communities, the county, and the state to address this problem in a more holistic way, given the changing weather patterns we see. 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.

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

I pride myself on being able to find reasonable, cost-effective solutions to long-standing challenges. As a new library trustee, I participated in our strategic planning process, which consciously chose to include significant input from the community. That input indicated issues that needed to be addressed, including difficulty finding materials our library did not own. Patrons were frustrated they had to drive around Lake County, wait an unexpected amount of time, or go without. I brought an innovative solution to this challenge to the board and director, and after considerable discussion and investigation, we found a solution that saved the library money, reduced wait times, and gave borrowers access to over 5 million additional items - without spending more.

Why should voters trust you?

I do my best to keep my word, and acknowledge when I cannot. I am always willing to hear from people about their concerns, and value being transparent and honest. I think that is what we owe our neighbors when we ask them to vote for us.

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

I will consider myself successful if Grayslake has made significant steps forward with setting and meeting sustainability goals. In particular, if we are able to complete solar installations and make noticeable improvements in stormwater management, I will take that as a sign that we are making important progress.

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

I believe we have an obligation to budget responsibly and “live within our means.” Prudent, thoughtful planning gives us flexibility when the economy is struggling, and sets us up to act quickly on opportunities when the nation’s economy is doing well. There are cost-saving investments the village should be pursuing, including solar installations and environmentally friendly storm water management techniques, that would save us money and improve the quality of life for all of us. We should also be creating smart partnerships with the parks, library, and schools to maximize efficiencies where we can, especially as it relates to sustainability efforts.

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

I support reasonable measures to ensure gun safety. My grandfather was paralyzed by a burglar who shot him with his own handgun when I was 13, and that has left me with a lifelong understanding of the importance of safe and responsible gun ownership, regardless of the specific type of weapon. Since this issue is larger than one community or even one village, I believe this is an issue best addressed at the federal or state level, and Grayslake has no legal authority to ban assault weapons.

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

When stories began circulating this summer about the SAFE-T Act, I was very concerned. Since then, I have had several conversations with the Lake County State's Attorney, friends in law enforcement, and others with knowledge of the bill. The State’s Attorney has indicated he has plans for implementing it, and is in frequent communication with our Chief of Police to ensure that our community is protected. If the SAFE-T Act can balance community safety and historic social justice problems, we will all benefit.

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?

Grayslake is generally a safe place to live, and that is reflected in our crime statistics. There have been reports of an increase in crimes of opportunity (items taken from cars and garages), as well as recent reports of car jackings and armed robberies at banks and gas stations. Appropriate funding for our police department is an important component of keeping our village safe, which I support. Robust after school and summer initiatives for tweens and teens is another, and we should work with the community and our government partners to help us build out sustainable, low-cost programs.

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?

The concerns I hear about most frequently are in two areas: environmentally responsible development, and investment in the business district outside of Center Street. Everyone loves our robust downtown, and it’s essential we continue to support one of the key drivers of our local economy. We need to make sure that the development and redevelopment taking place outside that area is given similar attention, and done in a more intentional way.

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

No

The best advice ever shared with me was:

“Change is neither good nor bad.” I think many of us find it easy to stick with what feels safe, comfortable, and familiar. I do. When I am faced with something entirely new, or a little scary, I remind myself of something I read in a book (and probably took 20 years to internalize): good and bad are value statements that we assign to things; change is not inherently good or inherently bad. Taking a moment to remember that message makes it much easier to evaluate a situation, which leads to a better decision.

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

Grayslake is a remarkable place to live, and it is an honor to serve my neighbors. We are working hard to build and maintain a community that is warm and welcoming, and special in every way. I believe I have the knowledge and skills to ensure that Grayslake lives up to that ideal.