Tony Blumberg: 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.

Tony Blumberg

Age (as of Election Day)
64

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
No

Education
BA, Philosophy, Washington University, St. Louis, MO (1980); JD IIT/ Chicago-Kent College of Law (1983)

Occupation
Attorney, private practice, 39 years

Campaign Website
tonyblumberg.com

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office
Plan Commission; City Council

The most pressing issues facing our (board, district, etc.) are _______, and this is what I intend to do about them.
Managing the impact of the post July 4th tragedy. This event has already affected our city in unforeseen ways. We have been informed by the Department of Justice that this will continue to affect Highland Park for many years. Our resiliency will be tested.

It was not my intention to run again until I began to understand the immediate impact that the shooting had upon my friends and neighbors. I was urged to consider another term by Mayor Rotering, council colleagues, and by supports, friends and family. I determined that my continued service on the Council would be a steadying influence. Continuity is important to maintain stability in our community and in our government. I have been recognized as a moderating and thoughtful voice when addressing divisive issues.

Highland Park has been my home for 60 years. I have seen many changes. Through it all, we have enjoyed a high rate of return in which children that grow up in Highland Park return to live here and raise their families here. And we have a large population that remains here through retirement and beyond. That speaks to the overall success of our City.

The vibrancy of our downtown is a concern often expressed by residents, and while on the Council, I have supported zoning that has had a direct and positive impact that has reduced the vacancy rate by half. This has included allowing increased residential density around our business districts and expanding the allowable uses at the street level.

I have been an active participant in maintaining and expanding our inclusionary zoning. This has improved diversity and inclusivity of many demographics. It is among the most robust programs in the state and the country.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
The most important element to consider when voting for a candidate for City Council is experience. I am the most experienced and the most qualified of all candidates running.

I have been on both sides of the dais. Before being appointed to, or running for office, I was a community advocate. I was involved in the redistricting of our schools, and in the debate over whether Renaissance Place should be built. This experience led to an invitation to join the board of the Interfaith Housing Center of the North Shore (now Open Communities).

Before running for elected office, I served two terms on the Plan Commission. During that time, I evaluated and made recommendations to the Council concerning the expansion of the Highland Park Hospital, the development and incorporation of inclusionary zoning, rezoning our business districts to be retail friendly and the expansion of the Highland Park Country Club to become the Recreation Center. From my experience on that commission, I learned to balance competing interests of residents, developers, community organizations and governmental policies. It is one thing to express your opinions, it is another thing to have to make a decision.

I have been on the City Council for three terms. I have been appointed as liaison to multiple commissions and sister governments.

I am a practicing attorney running my own litigation firm. I will celebrate my 40th year of private practice this year.

There is no other candidate running for City Council that has the depth or breadth of my experience.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform
I have been a steadying voice of openness, inclusion and moderation. I am accessible and have a long record of being a receptive listener. I have the ability to change my mind when appropriate, to be flexible and to work well with staff, other governmental entities both within Highland Park and locally.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
As Liaison to the Park District, I successfully kept the Park District boating ramp open when the City’s new water plant security affected access to that amenity. I am a proud signatory of the Highland Park assault weapons ban which we have successfully defended in the courts without cost to taxpayers. And I have ensured that our inclusionary zoning ordinance improved access to housing for Highland Parkers without adversely affecting ongoing development. Currently, I am a member of the Leaf Blower Regulations Regional Working Group which is seeking to reduce or eliminate the use of gas powered leaf blowers and other lawn maintenance equipment in our region. We have maintained the highest bond rating possible among all of our bond rating agencies.

Why should voters trust you?
I have an existing record that includes my votes, my public comments and my professional career. In all of these areas, I have maintained the highest level of ethics, and a commitment to fairness.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?
Helping to guide our community through the unknown challenges we are likely to face, caused by the tragedy of last summer.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the handling of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?
I have helped the City maintain the highest ratings with all of our bond rating agencies through the fiscal challenges of our economy including the pandemic. The primary obligation of government is to protect the health, safety and welfare of our citizens. I have done that. Our primary fiscal responsivity is infrastructure and by maintaining our high bond ratings, we are able to obtain excellent bond rates that allow us to dung our ongoing infrastructure commitments.

What is your view of the city's/village's approach to commercial and residential development?
Our Zoning changes, discussed earlier in my responses are the City's primary means of helping commercial and residential development. Those changes have resulted in significant expansion of residential availability, increased affordable housing and have improved the occupancy rate in Highland Park. Programs to attract outside customers are popular but unproven. Programs like "The Lot," and "Food Truck Thursdays" are fun and have been enjoyed by the community. But like billboards, their long term or even immediate impact on businesses is unknown and purely anecdotal.

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?
Affordable housing is a critical element to the success of our community. It improves diversity - both economically and socially. It helps those that started out in Highland Park remain here. I am the liaison to the Housing Commission which is in charge of overseeing this program. Our program is among the most successful in the state and in the nation. It has cost taxpayers nothing and has not interfered with development.

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?
Violent crime is a national concern that is not unique to Highland Park. The shooting that we suffered this past summer is proof of that. Our police department's response is an example of the excellence of our department, in responding to the event, the arrest and in its aftermath. We have given our police department the tools to prevent crime through advanced monitoring systems and personnel to avoid violent resolutions of conflicts.

Do you support the Illinois assault weapons ban, and do you support the city's local assault weapons ban?
I am an original signatory to the Highland Park assault weapons ban. i consider it a highlight of my service to the City. I support the State ban as well.

Do you think the current board has done enough to support racial equality? If not, what specifically should be done to do so?
We have done an excellent job of supporting racial equality, but there is always room for improvement. Further, the issue is not merely one of equality, but of access and inclusivity. And our focus should be not only racial equality, but ethnic, nationality, gender and disability equality. We have many programs that have been implemented and improved to meet these changing and increasing needs. But this is a never ending process. Diversity is a key to a sound and welcoming community.

Do you support the SAFE-T Act? Why or why not?
I support some of the intentions and goals of the SAFE-T Act. It is imperfect. To the extent that it supersedes , or impairs home rule authority to operate our police department, I would be concerned based upon the quality and level of service currently provided by our department. As to its impact on the criminal justice system, I support it generally as it seeks to remedy institutional abuses and unequal treatment of those that come within the system.

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:
Remember the rights of the minority. They must be protected too.

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

I have a reputation for fairness, of thoughtful and open deliberation and honesty. Ask anyone that knows me.

During my tenure I have been endorsed by every mayor of Highland Park that has ever known me: Ray Geraci, Dan Pierce, Michael Belsky and Nancy Rotering. I have disagreed with each of them at one time or another but all have or had consistently supported my service to the City on the Council. I think that is an important measure of who I am.