Patrick Duffy: Candidate For Wilmette Park Board

WILMETTE, IL — Ahead of the April 6 consolidated municipal elections, Wilmette-Kenilworth Patch provided questionnaires to all candidates on the ballot for Wilmette Park District Board of Commissioners.

Nine candidates are running for three available four-year terms on the seven-member board. They include one incumbent and eight newcomers.

The Wilmette Park District is a separate taxing body from the village, with its commissioners responsible for its budget, property tax levy and executive director.

Wilmette-Kenilworth Patch is publishing all responses submitted by candidates verbatim and in the order they have been received.

Patrick Duffy

Age (as of Election Day)
54

Town/City of Residence
Wilmette

Office Sought
Park board

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

Education
4 year undergraduate degree

Occupation
Commercial Real Estate sales leasing and management since 1993

Campaign website
none

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office
Appointed to Wilmette's Zoning Board of Appeals -completed last 4+ years of service as its Chairman

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The Gillson Master Plan - For more than 10 years the WPD has been working on a Master Plan for Gillson. I will push to move through the process and begin work on improvements and repairs to the park. Once the Plan is approved we should break it down into financially manageable pieces and make the improvements over time. This will keep our taxes from increasing while improving Gillson. If you weren't aware, the PD has a information about the Master Plan and its progress on its site. Go to www.wilmttepark.org and look to the right side for the drop down menu "Park District Info". Select "Gillson Comprehensive Plan" to view progress and discover how to get involved.

Do you support Black Lives Matter and what are your thoughts on the demonstrations held since the death of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake?

These events were another reminder of inequality in our country. The WPD recently approved a Statement of Inclusion and instituted a Policy of Inclusion based on the statement. I look forward to interacting with staff as the policy is implemented.

Do you think the current board has done enough to support racial equality, and if not, what specifically should be done to do so?

What are your thoughts on the national and local coronavirus response? Do you favor measures such as limiting operation of non-essential businesses and restricting indoor/outdoor dining? And do you favor a local mask mandate?

I believe the WPD did a great job following the guidelines from our Federal and State governments. As allowed, the WPD offer outdoor classes and open facilities for use. During this time staff demonstrated their ability to keep the balance sheet "in the black" for 2020. This was an impressive feat given the lack of revenue from user fees but also demonstrates how nimble the WPD can be when faced with a fiscal challenge. Staff should be commended.

What are your thoughts on the state and local coronavirus vaccine distribution, and how do you think local governments should work together to handle vaccine rollout?

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

My Experience - I was appointed to Wilmette's Zoning Board of Appeals and after 5+ years I was named its Chairman. I have lead a board with similar duties as the Commissioner's role for which I am now running. I have also created a Park in our Village. The Elmwood Dunes Preserve was created when I and other like minded residents organized support, created a plan and lobbied both the Village and the Park Boards to allow us to create a park on unused lakefront land. We raised over $100,000 through fundraising and grants and created a beautiful park where Elmwood Ave. runs into Lake Michigan.

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

The main concern I hear from residents is Communication. Residents would like more notice given and opportunities for their input to be considered as improvements or alterations are happening at their neighborhood parks.
While serving the Village on the ZBA I learned the importance of resident input. A week before each meeting Board members receive a packet with the cases for the upcoming meeting. I would read the information and begin to form an opinion on the case. I would then walk the subject site and get a feel for the request and how I thought it would impact neighbors and the neighborhood. Once at the meeting we would hear from the applicant and neighbors. This often changed my view of a case. It is the people who live on and around the property who know it best. They had the insight as to how a change would effect the immediate area.
We need to be better with communication out and listening to feedback.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

1. New programming - Pickle Ball is increasing in popularity and could be a revenue generator like Paddle Ball has become; More outdoor training classes. These became very popular during last summer; Open water training at the lake. Buoys can be placed in the water for more classes at the lake (revenue) as open water swimming and triathlon training have increased in popularity; Increase outdoor seating at the golf course (revenue). The view looking east down the 10th fairway in the summer is amazing.
2. Long term planning - Creating 3, 5, and 7 year plans for the parks and review them annually.
3. Environmental initiatives - A charging station will be installed at the Community Rec. Center this summer. Other sites should be considered for more charging stations: Gillson, the Golf Course and work with the Village and D39 for other locations. Solar panels at the Community Rec Center should be considered as long as they are financially viable. As we retire vehicles and equipment we should look to replace them with battery powered alternatives.
4. Maintain a fiscally strong and fiscally conservative WPD.
5. Continue and enhance the partnership between the WPD and the NSSRA. These are amazing services provided to our community. I would enjoy seeing more opportunities for families in our community to benefit from this unique programming.

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

1. For 10 years I was a member of Wilmette's Zoning Board of Appeals. The last 4 and a half I was its Chairman. Working with Village staff and other board members showed me how municipalities operate and how to interact successfully with them.
2. I was instrumental in the creation of Elmwood Dunes Preserve. Through a collaborative effort with residents and Village staff we brought to the Village a new lakefront park.

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

The completion and implementation of a Gillson Master Plan. Gillson Park is the crown jewel of our park system. It has been declining in repair and improvement for many years. It is an amazing park and deserves to be revitalized.

Why should voters trust you?

Trust is a belief in someone's character and strength, a belief that someone is dependable. I feel I have demonstrated this through my volunteer roles in our community (ZBA, Elmwood Dunes and Leading our daughters' Adventure Guides programming for 4 years) that I am dependable, forthright, transparent and honest.

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

The WPD offers tremendous value to the Wilmette taxpayer because so much of the WPD budget is funded through user fees, including those paid by non-residents at a premium. I am committed to maintaining a fiscally strong and a fiscally conservative WPD but one that also continually strives to meet the needs of its residents. Any new facilities and/or programming needs to be funded through user fees or operating debt and not tax supported debt. I would support investment in technology to create an easier user experience for residents. For example, I would like to improve the user experience through a new mobile app for activity and court time scheduling, access to facilities and more targeted communication such as Covid notifications. This could also create marketing opportunities to schedule classes and notify residents of site specific events.

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:

Be passionate about whatever you choose to pursue. - Barbara Duffy (my Mom)

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

I love the parks and outdoor spaces. I love them so much I was instrumental in the creation of a park in our Village. Parks are important for our physical and mental health. They help make Wilmette the wonderful village it is. The Park District is in strong financial health and is ramping up to serve the community as we emerge from the pandemic. I want to help continue the exceptional parks and programs offered to our residents. I applaud previous commissioners for keeping taxes low and not increasing referendum debt. The referendum debt is significantly reducing as it retires on schedule. My goal, to keep taxes low and finance future program expansion through user fees and operating debt.
I have enjoyed serving the community on the ZBA and would like to continue to serve Wilmette on the Board of Parks. This is why I am asking for your vote today.