Peter Adamson, Plainfield Village Trustee: Candidate Survey

PLAINFIELD, IL — Four candidates are vying for three open seats on Plainfield's Village Board.

In the April 4 Consolidated Election, voters will be asked to choose between Brian Wojowski, Margie Bonuchi, Peter Adamson and Richard Kiefer. The only candidate currently on the Board is Wojowski, who was first elected to the position in 2015.

Adamson recently responded to a Patch.com election survey. Take a look at his answers below:

Your name: Peter Adamson

Age (as of election day): 42

Town/city of residence: Plainfield

School district: I live in Plainfield District 202

Family: I am married to my wife, Ellen, and I have 2 daughters and 4 stepsons.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? Yes, my wife also works for the Department of Homeland Security.

Education: I have a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications from Illinois State University.

Occupation: I am the Assistant Federal Security Director of Mission Support for the State of Illinois within the Department of Homeland Security.

Campaign website: www.PeteforPlainfield.com

Previous or current elected or appointed office: This will be my first time running for office.

The most pressing issues facing our (board, district, etc.) are _______, and this is what I intend to do about them. The most pressing issue continues to be our infrastructure – the basic facilities and systems that serve our community. Over the past few decades, Plainfield has grown dramatically and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. Roads, railways, bridges, sewers and other physical structures – the things meant to boost the economy of our town – were not given adequate forethought. As the current Village Board approves more and more subdivisions, I see less and less collaboration with the state to fix, widen or build additional roads, particularly with two-lane highways in and out of heavy residential areas. There is not one resident I know that hasn’t grow tired of sitting at train crossings or waiting through multiple light changes to simply get across town, and many to include myself are very concerned with their overall safety as they travel; therefore, we need to make some hard pushes and major changes to our Village’s roadways.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post? The vast difference between myself and the other candidates, besides my age, is my 20-year background with the Federal Government. Although I work in this arena and currently manage multi-million dollar federal contracts and budgets, large committees and staff members, I also do so at local and state levels as well.

Overall, federal government spending makes up one-third of state budgets, and having an extensive understanding and insight into federal budgets, contracts, and spending for the state’s 12 federalized airports allows me the insight and skills to work with many overlapping groups at the multiple levels, which will enable me to serve objectively and honorably on this Board.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community or district? There are three trustee positions up for election this cycle, with one incumbent running and another that previously held the position in years prior. I have lived here for ten years and have yet to see the changes that this town needs and that the people continuously desire. I understand that there are many obstacles and unforeseen pitfalls that remain out of the public eye, so I would never say that any particular person failed. But, lateralling the ball and having another bring it across the finish line (the ultimate goal) is what we collectively should be seeking.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

In addition to the needed improvements to our infrastructure, expanding our corporate tax base is paramount as the residents bear much of the tax burden. Bringing in large businesses, and let me clarify – not just any businesses, rather ones with the “right fit” – is one way we can relieve our residents of that heavy responsibility. Focus should remain on our downtown area with unique local businesses to compliment the character and history of our town, but also the other areas nearby, all while looking at larger businesses and strategically approving their locations.

We need to be cognizant of where Plainfield residents and other neighboring communities spend their tax dollars, and the focus should be heartily on keeping those tax dollars in Plainfield. Instead, they are going to other towns to shop and for entertainment purposes (e.g. dispensaries, movies, video gaming and specialty shops), and while there, they do all their other shopping and dining (as is convenient), but sadly it’s outside of Plainfield. We need to make changes and attract consumers to all that Plainfield has to offer and can offer.

Another concern is the condition of the many of our subdivisions. Many of our neighborhoods need some revitalization while others just need the basics – such as repaired streets, sidewalks, sewers and curbs! We keep building new subdivisions, however we fail to repair and update the older subdivisions, resulting in many areas being grossly neglected over the years, which in turn brings down the overall value of our homes and schools.

I also believe we need to focus on our senior citizens. During my discussions around the neighborhoods, many seniors have expressed their feeling of being left out and without the resources they need for transportation or activities. This ties back in with our transportation infrastructure – it is lacking. Although we have a large PACE facility and bus service to and from downtown, not one bus accommodates our village except for the pickup on Van Dyke Road. This could use some needed attention.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? During my time overseeing the 12 airports in the State of Illinois, to include 3 government shutdowns, my budget has always been in the black. We are always within our spending parameters and each year have thousands to return to the Federal Reserve due to my being fiscally responsible with our spending.

When it comes to hiring for the State of Illinois, we are always on target with our hiring needs so that the airports across the state run efficiently and effectively.

Why should voters trust you? Twenty years ago I swore an oath to protect the nation’s transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce. In addition, I currently hold a Secret Background Clearance with the Federal Government and have sworn to uphold the mission, vision, and values of this nation. Nothing about my character has changed, nor will it when swear to be a public servant and faithfully carry out the duties of my office for the people of Plainfield.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office a success? One major accomplishment would be relief on taxes within the Village – an influx of non-tax payer revenue into the community, a decrease in residential tax, and an increase in the corporate tax base would alleviate some of that burden.

A second major accomplishment would be to increase safety on our roads by alleviating the traffic congestion caused by trucks and rail crossings with long-term state-funded improvements.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the handling of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking? I believe the handling of tax dollars to be of utmost importance. In my current full-time job, I manage millions of dollars in taxpayer money. From employee salaries, to leased airport space, to purchasing supplies for the entire workforce, I am held to standards which include fiscal responsibility at all times. I also believe that the Federal and State government need to support smaller villages, namely Plainfield, to help take the burden off the residents when I comes to roads and train crossing throughout our Village.

What are your thoughts on how the district has handled the COVID-19 pandemic? Everyone did the best they could navigating such uncharted territory, especially being given extremely limited and ever-changing information. My agency alone underwent 16 entire Human Capital Advisory Memo revisions, plus multiple Standard Operating Procedures changes, major budget overhauls, and several Emergency Mandates and Executive Orders regarding the Emergency Paid Leave Act and Mandatory Vaccinations. With an affected staff totaling over 2,200, it was an extremely difficult time which we managed to work through with stride. As a take-way, we learned from every situation, remained proactive and quick paced – ready to turn on a dime – and we put “best practices” forward, and built and relied on our great team members. Looking back, naturally hindsight is 20/20, so to finger-point and place blame is and time-waster and counterproductive. I know that I can manage the very same results on this Board if faced with an equally challenging problem based on my past experiences.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, some school boards saw extremely heated disagreements during public meetings. If elected, what changes, if any, need to be made to ensure meetings are run efficiently while still allowing open discussions? As the head of Mission Support, I have facilitated countless meetings on local, state, and federal levels. I am quite adept at running an effective meeting, establishing ground rules, keeping to the agenda, and finding a solution. Occasionally meetings will get heated as residents are passionate about their livelihood and the welfare of their town, and I’m prepared for that. As a rule, courtesy and tact are a two-way street, so when these situations occur, I remain acutely aware of the pitfalls which often are personal agendas, a non-clarification of the issue, or a failure to bring the involved parties together with the goal of identifying a solution. The Village Board must collaborate and find that middle ground at the very least to make the best decisions for our community while creating the least amount of distress or damage.

How do you feel about sex education being taught in school? Should an LGBTQ component be included, and why or why not? I am not a candidate for the Plainfield School Board, nor do I currently have children in the district, however I am aware that Plainfield School District 202 chose to opt out of teaching the state’s new sex education curriculum. This heavily debated and controversial topic has many valid feelings and concerns, not just locally but statewide, with over 60% of Illinois schools opting out of teaching the lessons altogether, which is particularly concerning for the students being left with no sex education at all. There are ways forward and there is no argument that some topics could use an update. The best way to help adolescents make responsible decisions is to give them a curriculum that is not radical nor overly traditional, which calls for a re-standardization of the content and the ages/grades in which it is received. I remain optimistic that there is some middle ground both sides can come to terms with while benefitting from the advantages of educating our children early.

What are your views on critical race theory and whether it should be taught in the district? For those who are asking, “What is critical race theory?” the precise definition alone faces massive dispute; from being labelled as a set of ideas that racial bias is inherent (habit), to how American racism has shaped legal policy, education, employment and healthcare, to the divisive ideology that all societal issues are due to racism, to a multitude of other definitions. The reason I (attempt to) define it is because recent polls showed that 57% of adults said they were not familiar with the term, and those that said they were familiar, agreed that it is horribly misused. The debate is how to teach children in classes K-12 about the country’s history and race relations, to learn about how to tackle racial and social injustice, while protecting students from the possibility of a distortion of history. I am confident both sides agree that racism exists in America, but are in sharp disagreement as to just what degree it exists. Although I am running for Village Board and not the School Board, my view is such: Young people have the right to learn about human rights and how to fight against oppression and discrimination along with the many teachers who want to make schools feel safe and supportive for all.

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 believe over that past several years this Board and staff has been committed to racial and gender equality.

When it comes to student achievement, what are schools within this district doing well and what needs to be improved? How can those improvements be made? While I do not have children in the school district, I do believe we have very good schools based on the Illinois Report Card and the families I know throughout the Village. Plainfield High Schools have a 94% graduation rate which is 7% above the state average. This year alone, District 202 has 228 Illinois State Scholars. There is always room for improvement when it comes to education, and hitting a 100% graduation rate would be one of them. But I do believe that the candidates running for the School Board would have a much better idea on exactly what can be improved upon. I’m sure all parents can agree on one thing, and it took a pandemic for many to realize, just how valuable and irreplaceable teachers are to us. To all the teachers in the district, thank you for the work you do with the young people in Plainfield. Your time with them will make the future of our Village an even better place.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family? I am fully committed to serving the residents of Plainfield for a full term. My family has plans to live a long time in this very community that we love.

The best advice ever shared with me was: "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." – Winston Churchill. Back-up Quote: "Never, never, never give up." – Winston Churchill.