Kelly Nichols: Highland Park City Council Candidate Profile

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Ahead of the April 4 municipal elections, Highland Park Patch provided questionnaires to all candidates for City Council.

There are five candidates running for three open seats on the Highland Park City Council. Incumbents Tony Blumberg and Adam Stolberg are seeking reelection. A trio of newcomers — Jeff Hoobler, Kelly Nichols and Yumi Ross — are in the running for a first term as a councilmember.

Patch is publishing all responses submitted by candidates verbatim.

Kelly Nichols

Age (as of Election Day)
45

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
Just me. I am the Senior Manager of Policy and Advocacy for Respiratory Health Association and a registered lobbyist for the organization with the state of Illinois.

Education
I have my B.F.A. degree from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. I had a major in Theatre Performance and a minor in German.

Occupation
I am currently employed as the Senior Manager of Policy and Advocacy with Respiratory Health Association in Chicago. I have worked for them since October 2019. Additionally, I am co-owner of two businesses: 2 Ladies and a Ladder (we're in our fifth year), a handywoman business, and Even Made (we are in year two), a business where we teach homeowner/DIY/construction skills to those traditionally marginalized in the trades and construction industry.

Campaign Website
www.kellynicholsforhp.com

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office
I serve as the appointed Chair of the Sustainability Advisory Group in Highland Park. I have served on this Group for seven years.

The most pressing issues facing our (board, district, etc.) are _______, and this is what I intend to do about them.
1. Continuing to provide impactful support to local businesses and business development.

Within the city budget, I will join the City’s efforts to incentivize businesses to open in Highland Park and to celebrate and support those who are already here by:

- Streamlining the business approval process
- Allowing flexible uses for vacant spaces
- Increasing foot traffic by adding more safe and fun gathering places for kids and teens, especially downtown. Let’s expand our “shop and play local” culture!

I want to ensure I’m doing everything within the power of the City to increase the vibrancy of and support of all Highland Park businesses.

2. Investing in public safety.

Critical safety measures as outlined by state and county governments to protect residents, visitors, and businesses will be fully implemented. I’ll continue to evaluate and evolve best practices with law enforcement and emergency services to keep community members safe. I would also increase awareness of the CERT program to empower residents who may feel safer at future public events with disaster response education.

3. Managing our city’s finances responsibly, while continuing to provide the high level of services Highland Park is known for.

I will ensure that our City government is meeting the identified needs of our community while utilizing City resources efficiently. I will maintain these high-level services for our diverse population as we reconnect and rebuild after our shared tragedy last summer. I will always look at expenditures and services through the lenses of diversity, climate resilience, and efficiency so that our development is thoughtful and cost-effective.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
Of the three non-incumbent candidates, I have more expertise in municipal, state, and federal policy and lawmaking. I am one of two candidates with elementary school-aged children in the Highland Park school system, and I am the only candidate who lives in the Highlands neighborhood, which is an area not often represented on the Council.

Aside from those broader differences, the specific thing that sets me apart is my unique combination of skills. I have innovative ideas as a working parent, business owner, community organizer, and policy expert. My perspective is informed by a decade of working on climate, energy, and health affairs, which is a unique area of expertise.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform
- Fighting climate change led me to the city’s Sustainability Advisory Group (previously the Natural Resources Commission), which I currently chair, and to which I was appointed over seven years ago. Highland Park needs to continue to meet, and increase the goals we’ve set in the sustainability plan that I helped to develop during my tenure. If elected, I will work on putting those suggested policies into practice.

I’ve been endorsed by Run On Climate, and although I am not the only candidate who understands the importance of reducing our carbon footprint, I am the only one who currently works on it at a federal, state, and local level as a career. I will reduce municipal greenhouse gas emissions while saving the city money, and ensure that the city and its supporting infrastructure are able to withstand the worst impacts of climate change.

- I know that a diverse community is a successful one. I will work with my fellow Council members to increase cultural competence with respect to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Through anti-racism education and internal bias work, I am learning to understand systems of oppression and will prioritize building a culture of fairness, dignity, and respect for ALL of our residents regardless of age, income, race, or ability.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
I’ve accomplished nearly everything in my life by showing up and pitching in. I am an entrepreneur who owns two small businesses and understands the nuanced needs of a new company that’s just getting started. I will support Highland Park businesses already here, and new businesses joining our commercial areas because I know how critical they are to our community's vibrancy.

For every situation, I lead with the question: “How can I help?”

I have helped to get policies over the finish line in the City of Chicago and in Springfield that impact public health, lung disease, and the environment. I know how different levels of government operate, and how policy goes from start to finish.

I came into the world of advocacy and policy as a passionate mom who was panicked about climate change and wanted to make a difference. I showed up so much that I was offered a job that has become a career. Here I am almost a decade later as the Senior Manager of Policy and Advocacy for Respiratory Health Association. During my time in the Sustainability Advisory Group, we included reductions of the City’s carbon footprint in the Sustainability Plan.

Why should voters trust you?
I have a proven track record of reliability, competence, and collaboration. I am prepared and work diligently to remove my personal bias from decision-making situations that impact others beyond me. I am fully dedicated to fulfilling the duties of the City Council and serving my community.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?
Success would mean building up Highland Park's vibrant business portfolio, especially Downtown. It would mean the Council and City will have worked closely to make the approval processes more streamlined and efficient, helping businesses take root, and increasing experiences for residents and visitors. Success would also be expanded investment in the City’s diversity and equity practices, and increased momentum on policies around climate resilience and greenhouse gas reductions.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the handling of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?
I am a firm believer that government needs to be fiscally responsible with all money, whether it comes from appropriated funds, grants, or taxpayers. Highland Park has an excellent track record fiscally, and that is critical to ensure community confidence in governing bodies.

What is your view of the city's/village's approach to commercial and residential development?
The City needs to continue to provide impactful support to commercial development all around Highland Park. Three ideas that I support are tax incentives for incoming commercial ventures, creative use-of-space allowances in vacant properties, and streamlined approval processes. I appreciate the City’s comprehensive assessment of the potential impacts of every commercial and residential project that comes before them. I will add my ideas and enthusiasm to developing more tools to assess projects presented to the Council.

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?
Creating housing and business options that reflect our diverse, multi-generational residents and visitors is a key to success. Residents want more commercial development in vacant spaces, especially in the Central Business District. They want a variety of places to shop, eat, have fun, and gather. The city needs to continue to incentivize new businesses and find out what will keep businesses here. I support investment in diverse customer experiences that will increase vibrancy and give residents and visitors more options for things to do.

Adding experiential businesses throughout the city - like an indoor ropes course, a roller rink, etc. would add to the options available and make Highland Park a destination. Continuing to increase foot traffic downtown through conscientious residential development is another great solution.

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?
Highland Park’s violent crime rate is comparably low, but residents mention concerns about increased theft, especially of cars, personal property, etc. Implementing and fully realizing the county and state goals of restorative justice, using “interrupters” to prevent future crime, and tools like the FRO (Firearm Restraining Orders) to keep guns out of the hands of people who are potentially dangerous to themselves and others, such as people convicted of domestic abuse, etc. are critical to preventing more violent crime in our area.

As our community can never forget, Highland Park became one of the many cities impacted by gun violence and mass murder last summer. I am heartened by the steps the City has taken to allay the vulnerability and fear many of us have following the tragedy on July 4, 2022. I appreciate the elected officials that serve Highland Park and their support of the assault weapons ban at the city and state levels. I appreciate the City’s consistent investment in our safety to provide necessary funding and critical training for our first responders and I will support continued efforts.

Do you support the Illinois assault weapons ban, and do you support the city's local assault weapons ban?
Yes and yes. I applaud the work the state, county, and local governments are doing to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. I believe that the ban is part of an important group of ordinances and laws that can keep our community safer.

Do you think the current board has done enough to support racial equality? If not, what specifically should be done to do so?
I think that as long as there is racial inequity in our community, or our non-white residents feel vulnerable, more can always be done. I feel Highland Park has taken critical steps to be a welcoming and equitable city. Increasing cultural competence and lifting up marginalized voices will help fight systems of oppression in our community. I truly believe that a diverse city is a successful one.

Do you support the SAFE-T Act? Why or why not?
I am a proponent of the SAFE-T Act. The fiscal impact of jail time can cause severe destabilization to families which, in turn, makes communities less stable. There are other potential avenues to guarantee that people return to court for their due process.

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:
I would say that the most important thing shared with me was a lesson, rather than advice. “If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” -Lilla Watson

That quote encapsulates the most important lesson I’ve learned. As a community organizer at the beginning of my career, I learned that when you center yourself in a solution, you may be ignoring the needs of the community the problem impacts. When you embrace a community's experiences, diversity, and intelligence, you can’t go wrong.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I love to bake with my kids, play with my two goofy rescue pups, travel with my husband, build and fix things in my home, and spend time in my garden. In a previous life, before my job in policy and advocacy and the birth of my twins, I was a stand-up comedian, playwright, and actress in NYC.

My heart is in service whether it’s making costumes for the school play, gathering donations for someone who needs them, running a business that makes people feel empowered, or being there for my friends. I really do wake up every day with a desire to help my community and the world.

I want to make Highland Park even better than it is. I want it to be a place OUR kids want to come back to, and that people can’t wait to spend time in. If anyone has a concern that the City can address, they can come to me. I’m smart and capable, and I’m focused on finding the right person or solution for a problem. I always work on something until a problem is solved.

I will bring the visions of the city and its citizens together. I have new perspectives and fresh ideas, as well as an extensive amount of experience in policy, advocacy, community building, and engagement to make them happen. I would be honored to earn your vote. Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions at www.kellynicholsforhp.com