Gregory Lapin: Candidate For Deerfield Park District Board

DEERFIELD, IL — Ahead of the April 6 consolidated municipal elections, Deerfield Patch provided questionnaires to all candidates on the ballot.

Six candidates are vying for three seats on the Deerfield Park District Board of Commissioners on Election Day. They include three incumbents Rick Patinkin (current president), Gil Antokal and Gregory Lapin. The challengers are Michael Brown, Joel Seeskin and Debbie Serota.

Deerfield Patch is publishing all responses submitted by candidates verbatim.

Gregory Lapin

Age (as of Election Day)

64

Town/City of Residence

Deerfield

Office Sought

Park board

Party Affiliation (if a partisan race)

n/a

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

I have served on the Federal Communication Commission's Technological Advisory Council in Washington, DC for the past 20 years.
My son works for NIST in the Washington, DC area.

Education

BS, Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University
MS, Electrical Engineering, Northwestern University
PhD, Electrical Engineering, Northwestern University

Occupation

Consulting Engineer, 26 years

Campaign website

ParkBoardIncumbents.com

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Deerfield Park Board Commissioner, 12 years
Village of Deerfield Emergency Services and Disaster Agency, 9 years
Village of Deerfield Cable and Telecommunications Commission, 17 years

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

Promoting outdoor activity during the winter. Cross-country skiing and snow-shoe hiking are excellent outdoor exercise when there is snow on the ground. However, they are difficult on fresh snow, which needs to be tamped down first. I plan to explore how the trail preparation is performed and add the needed devices to the park district's equipment, with a schedule to process the cart paths at the golf course after a new snow. To help promote this we must also look into the rental of skis and snow shoes from the pro-shop during the winter.

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?

The recent spate of deaths of our black citizens at the hands of police has been a shock and an eye-opener. The outrage and subsequent peaceful demonstrations were long overdue. The violent displays and widespread looting were unfortunate, though I believe that they were not perpetrated by genuine demonstrators but rather criminals who took advantage of the outrage.

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

Parks in Deerfield are open to all. Anyone who wants to use the parks is welcome, regardless of race. The Park District has also provided significant scholarships to residents who are unable to afford program. In the past 20 years, the Deerfield Park District, together with the Deerfield Park Foundation, has awarded $745,125 in scholarships, assisting up to 50 families per year. Some of these are families of students at Trinity International University, providing diversity to our district that includes different races and countries of origin. In addition, the Park Board recently approved the concept of partnering with a "Sister Village" that will also bring more diversity to our district.

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?

The national coronavirus response got off to a slow start but is currently ramping up to be much more effective. Although it is unfortunate that many businesses have to suffer, following the recommendations of legitimate scientists works to keep everyone safer. If the virus is raging in our area, then businesses are unlikely to fare well even without limitations. The only way to get back to normal is to eradicate the risk. This goes double for masks, which present a minimal inconvenience yet protect the mask wearers and everyone around them.

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?

Coronavirus distribution also got off to a slow start and is also ramping up. To aid in the response, the Deerfield Park Board has approved an agreement with a doctors' organization to set up the Patty Turner Center as a vaccine distribution site. This should aid our residents in receiving their vaccinations when it is their turn.

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

Experience and expertise. I belong to the National Parks and Recreation Association and the Illinois Association of Park Districts, where I am in my fourth year of serving on their Board of Trustees. I also have expertise in the financial workings of Park Districts and serve on the Board of the Illinois Trust, which invests fund balances from Park Districts and other municipal agencies to realize extra income that helps offset some of the requirements for taxes. Finally, during my 12 years in the leadership of DYBA I worked with the Park District and learned much about its operations.

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

n/a

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

The Deerfield Park District is a well run body of government that has provided the people of Deerfield with excellent parks and recreational opportunities for a very reasonable share of property taxes (about 6% of the property tax bill). The current Board of Park Commissioners has been accumulating funds for various large capital projects that have been identified as being needed. This way of planning ahead has kept the district up to date and in good working order without excessive increases in taxes. I hope that we can continue to operate in this efficient and effective manner as we complete projects that have been planned for many years.

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

My training is in engineering, which builds expertise in problem solving. I have excelled in that field and have used its skills to enhance the operations of my other love, Parks and Recreation. I have spent 12 years as a Park Board Commissioner in a highly effective and efficient Park District. My service in that position was recognized by the Illinois Association of Park Districts, where I was nominated to serve on their Board of Trustees. From that position I was then nominated to serve on the Board of the Illinois Trust.

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

As I hike around Deerfield, my greatest joy is when I see people deriving enjoyment in the parks. Conversely, I hate it when I see empty parks. Full use of the parks is what I strive for. Anything that increases that use is an accomplishment that I would relish. I also want to further the Park District's protection of the environment. One project that is currently in the works is to install solar panels the two south-facing roof surfaces at the Sachs Recreation Center. We currently spend up to $10,000 per month for electricity at that building and obtaining much of that energy from the sun rather than from fossil fuels makes the best sense. In addition to energy and cost savings, I would like to see the solar panels become an educational tool for the community, with the goal of convincing people how beneficial solar electric generation is for the Park District, and how it could help them at home, too.

Why should voters trust you?

I have devoted much of my adult life to the betterment of Parks and Recreation for the benefit of the community. I have always dealt with my duties honestly and fairly, and will continue to do so.

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

I believe that taxes are a worthwhile expense as long as you get good value for the money spent. The Deerfield Park District has been run efficiently for a long time and provides excellent value to its residents. The current Board policy of planning ahead for major projects and accumulating funds toward those goals without increasing taxes for that purpose is a highly effective method of providing excellence in the parks and facilities. I intend to continue on that path. Deerfield Park District represents about 6% of your property tax bill and derives less than half of its revenue from property taxes, with the other half coming from user fees, program fees, rental fees, interest income, reimbursements, grants and donations. Increases in the tax levy are typically lower than the rate of inflation. For instance, over the past 5 years, the typical increase to the Park District portion of the property tax bill for a $500,000 home was approximately $20 per year.

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:

Do your homework! When faced with an argument, get all the facts and viewpoints before making a decision.

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

I am dedicated to providing my neighbors in Deerfield with the best parks and recreation opportunities possible.