Meet James Iverson: Candidate For Skokie District 4 Trustee

SKOKIE, IL — James Iverson is running for District 4 Trustee in Skokie's April 1 election.

During his career, Iverson has worked as a consumer goods broker, consultant and engineer, with 40 years of experience. Iverson currently runs sales and marketing company F&I Marketing, based in Skokie.

He is running against Edward Olivieri for District 4 Trustee in Skokie.

Learn more about Iverson and his goals for Skokie:

Age (as of Election day)

59

Campaign website

www.jim4skokie.com

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering - University of Illinois

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

Everyone is concerned about rats and the stalled hotel project on Oakton, so I won't dwell on them. Our downtown needs to be healthy and vital because it is a focus of our Village and because it makes the greatest impression on guests and visitors to Skokie. The character of our downtown is formed by small businesses, and that makes us special. Our Village cares about small businesses but is largely distracted by larger, more prestigious projects. We need to direct more resources towards small businesses, and we will see better returns on our investments.

Skokie housing is less affordable than it should be, and as will our small businesses, investments in our small landlords will provide better, more immediate returns. It will also improve housing standards for tenants. The board votes on deals presented to the Village by developers, and our recent track record indicates that we have not done a good job of evaluating those deals. I think our Village may be too intent on landing large projects, and we see the adverse results, but even when these projects succeed, I do not think the return is worth our investment.

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

I benefit from my age - almost 40 years of experience in business, in engineering, and in managing deals with clients. I have almost always functioned as a middleman, and that has helped me understand people and especially people with opposing positions, which has allowed me to work well with a broad spectrum of people. Our sons are grown, but we do not yet have grandchildren, so we are at a stage of life where I have time to devote to being a trustee.

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

The 4th District Trustee is a new position, but to consider the board in general, I think that they have been overly focused on big projects and insufficiently focused on small businesses and landlords. A lot of people in our village feel unheard, and a District Trustee can help bridge the gap between people and the Village, so everyone better understands one another.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I love the small-town character of Skokie, and it is important to me that we always act first as neighbors. Adversarial relationships do not need to be unethical or even impolite. I know most people feel the same way, though it may sometimes appear otherwise.

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

My wife and I ran two retail businesses in downtown Skokie, and we have been landlords, both residential and commercial. I was active in IMODS, which was the precursor to DSMC. I have run fundraising for intellectual disabilities for the Knights of Columbus for many years. I have worked on important engineering projects, and I developed software that is used in almost all US nuclear plants and many international plants. I have served hundreds of clients as a consultant and as a CPG broker.

Why should voters trust you?

Because of the nature of our village, I have met a very large number of Skokie people. I hope that people I have met have confidence in me and will share their feelings about me with others. Our family cares about service and commitment. My wife served with Catholic Charities, I with the Peace Corps, my son David serves as an Army Captain, my son Nick works as a CNA in a Skokie nursing home, my son Sam served as an Army Sergeant, and my son Isaiah serves as an Army Lieutenant.

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

If our small business and landlords were thriving, if our neighbors were actively enjoying our village, and if our rat problem was reduced, I would feel like my term was successful.

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

Our village is well-run, and our fiscal policy has been conservative. Regarding our major development projects, however, we are not critical enough when considering projections, we do not do enough to examine expected returns on investment, and we do not make use of past results to predict future performance.

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?

We have an exceptional police department. They already make themselves visible at Skokie events and engage with people, which has a great effect on the community, and I'd love to see as much as possible of that.

What is your view of the city's/village's approach to commercial and residential development?

As I mentioned above, I think that small businesses and landlords are crucial to the personality of our village, and we need to rebalance our focus onto them.

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?

Residents are frustrated by the failed hotel development on Oakton, and they were frustrated by the changes and delays at the Highpoint, but I have already discussed those. Many residents, tenants and owners, have also expressed concerns about our property standards and properties failing to meet them. In some cases, enforcement can fix the problem. In other cases, the Village will need to provide resources to allow for repairs. In all cases, the Village must work closely and amicably with the owner, no matter how difficult. It is important that responsible owners feel that the Village is on their side.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Shut up and listen.

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

Our family is fully invested in Skokie. We moved here for the schools, for affordable housing, and to open a candy store. Skokie's warm, small-town character makes everyone feel welcome, and that was a perfect fit for our candy store, Mini Man Monkey Brains. That store served intellectually disabled people, and we later added an art gallery with the same mission. Skokie is special, because it is a place where regular people send their children to exceptional schools, have friends and neighbors from all over the world, experience great art, eat delicious food, and open stores and galleries. And run for Trustee.