Prue Beidler: Lake Forest Mayor Candidate Profile

LAKE FOREST, IL — Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Patch provided questionnaires to all three candidates running for Lake Forest mayor ahead of the April 4 municipal elections.

Prue Beidler, Sanford "Randy" Tack and Paul Hamann are on the ballot seeking a two-year term as mayor. They each hope to succeed George Pandaleon, who has completed his maximum two terms in office.

Lake Forest voters approved a referendum in 2002 that extended mayoral term limits from three one-year terms to a pair of two-year terms with nearly 90 percent of the vote.

Tack has been endorsed by the Lake Forest Caucus's 43-member committee, although he was rejected by about two-thirds of participating Caucus members at the group's annual meeting in November. Biedler and Hamann are both running as independent candidates.

The League of Women Voters of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff is hosting a mayoral candidate forum at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Gorton Community Center, 400 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest.

Representatives of the League confirmed on Saturday that all candidates have agreed to the forum's ground rules and are expected to participate.

Patch is publishing all candidate responses verbatim in the order in which they are received.

Prue Beidler

Age (as of Election Day)
76

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
Yes, Inspector General

Education
Wellesley College, B.A. (honors), University of Chicago, M.S.T.

Occupation
Over the last five decades, I have been a public school teacher, the interim CEO of both the Chicago Children's Museum and The Chicago Community Trust, and also served on 20 non-profit boards, and chaired 10 of them.

Campaign Website
prueforlakeforest.com

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office
I was appointed to the Cemetery Commission for three terms (2008-2014), and elected as Ward 1 Alderman for three terms ( 2014-2020). While alderman, I was Chairman of the Civic Beautification Committee, and the Welcome Home campaign. I also served on the Personnel and Compensation Committee.

The most pressing issues facing our (board, district, etc.) are _______, and this is what I intend to do about them.
One key issue facing our City is the direction of new development. I will work with City Council, City staff, and residents to ensure that future development is consistent with Lake Forest's historic character, while also promoting a vibrant family-friendly community.

A second issue is public safety. With our public safety officials and City staff, I will monitor public safety concerns, including freight rail issues. Residents have made it clear to me that they would like to be better informed about what all of us can do to help prevent crime in Lake Forest.

A third pressing issue is transparency in decision making. I have been and will continue to be a strong advocate for increased transparency and community engagement in City government.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
Neither of my opponents has ever served on a City board or commission, as I have done, which is a customary experience for incoming mayors. Additionally, throughout my many leadership roles, I have demonstrated that I am a team player who is adept at listening and building consensus with people of diverse viewpoints. As mayor, I will be approachable, someone who can connect with residents and truly understand their concerns and perspectives. I will able to devote full time energy to addressing our growing City's needs.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform
My campaign platform entails: (1) continuing the City's excellent fiscal oversight and maintaining our AAA bond rating; (2) assessing and addressing our infrastructure needs such as drainage, roads, sidewalks, and traffic congestion: (3) offering residents regular opportunities to share views with elected officials.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
I served six years as a Lake Forest alderman. I also served six years as a commissioner on the Cemetery Commission. I served in leadership roles for four public-private partnerships: Market Square 2000, Forest Park Project, Deerpath Golf Course Renovation project, and emergency funding for bluff collapse in 2018. In all, I helped raise over $8.6 million. As an alderman, I led the Welcome Home campaign, which helped attract new families to Lake Forest.

Why should voters trust you?
Residents of Lake Forest have consistently trusted me throughout my decades of service to our community. I have a reputation for listening and working directly with residents when they face important issues. For example, I responded and met with concerned residents on the west side of Lake Forest when there was a serious threat of installing an additional track to allow freight trains to remain parked and idling. One of my opponents, Randy Tack, was the only alderman (of eight) who did not meet with these worried residents, even though they lived in his ward.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?
While mayor, I will initiate processes that will facilitate communication and welcome new ideas and perspectives, resulting in a far more open and transparent City government.

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

We must continue a strong commitment to prudent financial planning and rigorous oversight. I believe Lake Forest's fiscal policies have served the City extremely well.

What is your view of the city's/village's approach to commercial and residential development?
My view of development in Lake Forest includes creating a vibrant, family-friendly community, with retail businesses and restaurants that residents will support, while maintaining our unique historic character. I would accomplish this by ensuring more transparency in the decision making process, giving residents multiple opportunities to express their ideas and desires, ensuring that architects and developers with historic building expertise are part of the planning process, and exploring ways to attract new retail.

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?
We need to be more inclusive in our process of determining what get's developed and how. As I reach out to families across Lake Forest, I've learned that they would like to see more development which includes family-centric amenities and gathering spaces, as well as new retail and restaurants. We must always prioritize our historic character and include more citizen engagement as we plan and implement future development.

Do you support the statewide Illinois assault weapons ban, and would you support a local assault weapons ban in this community?
I would uphold the laws of the State of Illinois on assault weapons if the Courts deem them to be legal.

What are your thoughts on the crime rate in your community, and what more can be done to combat crime in town?
Many people move to Lake Forest because it is so safe. We need to continue to work closely with our community-focused police department to be sure that we are doing all we can to prevent crime in Lake Forest. It would be beneficial for residents to be made more aware and have greater dialogue with our enforcement officials on local crime incidents. It is also critical to establish stronger partnerships with our neighboring communities on our crime related issues.

Do you support the SAFE-T Act? Why or why not?
This is not an issue in Lake Forest City government.

Do you think the city government has done enough to support racial equality? If not, what changes should be made?
The City of Lake Forest does not discriminate based on race in any of its policies or procedures. There are equal protection laws that are taken seriously by City staff and we must make it clear that our community welcomes diversity.

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:
Listen carefully to other points of view before making a decision.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to live in Lake Forest, and to have had so many opportunities for service. The purposeful work of giving back has defined my life, as I expect that it will continue to do. Campaigning for mayor has given me a remarkable opportunity to meet many new people, to hear their views and ideas about how a wonderful city like Lake Forest could be even better.