Rick Patinkin: 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 Greg Lapin. The challengers are Michael Brown, Joel Seeskin and Debbie Serota.

Deerfield Patch is publishing all responses submitted by candidates verbatim.

Rick Patinkin

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?

No

Education

JD cum laude John Marshall Law School - 1984; BA Finance University of Illinois Champaign/Urbana - 1978

Occupation

Attorney at Law - 37 years

Campaign website

www.parkboardincumbents.com

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Deerfield Park District Commissioner - 24 years

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

Covid 19. I intend to continue full support of our Park District staff who have been outstanding in their ability to pivot and adapt to constantly changing governmental mandates, guidelines, and protocols throughout the last year. They have made the Deerfield Park District one of the most successful districts in the entire Chicago area in maintaining the operation of programs, services, and facilities through the entire pandemic. This support would be subject to the fiscal responsibility requirements that the current Board has always adhered to.

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?

I support Black Lives Matter. I also believe that peaceful demonstrations are a constitutional right and are necessary to call attention to the tragic history of the Black people and man's inhumanity against man. Peaceful demonstrations provide me with the same glimmer of hope and optimism that I have experienced each and every time I have visited the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee located at the Lorraine Motel where Reverend, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. The museum highlights those who peacefully sat down on a bus or at a lunch counter, where unjust laws passed by bigoted people said they could not, or those others who sat in, stood up, marched, rode freedom buses, or spoke up and took action for what should be right in the world and what is wrong.

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

Yes, our programs and facilities are non discriminatory and inclusive so that all people have fair and just access to the benefits of high quality local parks and recreation. I recognize that we should always be aware and proactive in promoting racial equality.

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 in science and following the CDC and other medical guidance. National and local response should be coordinated with the most current and accurate information available.

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?

State and local government bodies and agencies should share their resources and facilities to facilitate and expedite the equitable distribution of the vaccine. Stay tuned for a hopeful imminent announcement from the Deerfield Park District in this regard.

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

24 years as an elected Park District Commissioner preceded by 10 years of service on various Park District advisory committees provide me with a thorough knowledge of the history of the District and its operation. I have a life long commitment to social responsibility in general and parks, recreation, nature, and the the environment in particular. For the 37 years that I have been a Deerfield resident, I have chosen to fulfill this commitment through ongoing volunteer service to the community in general and the Park District in particular. This is coupled with the fact that as the owner of a business for 33 years (a mom and pop law firm with my wife Debbie), I have first hand knowledge, experience, understanding, and appreciation of the economic and management concerns of running a business in a fiscally responsible manner.

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

Maintaining fiscal responsibility and absorbing increased expenses from unforeseen natural disasters such as the the emerald ash borer and a global pandemic. Additional expenses also arise from government mandates such as the phased in increase in the minimum wage. The Park District is the largest part time employer in our community and probably provides more young people with their first job than any employer in our community. Increases in the minimum wage thus have a greater impact on the park district budget than on most employers. We must continue to assure that this impact and the impact from the significant additional expense of dealing with and addressing the natural disasters is not commensurately reflected on your tax bill.

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

Virtually every park or facility expansion or enhancement, that required the the ability to understand and balance the needs and desires of the community at large with the traffic congestion, parking, lighting, noise, drainage, environmental and other concerns of passionate park neighbors and the ability to arrive at satisfactory compromises.

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

-- The completion, review and implementation of the impending community wide attitude and interest resident survey in order to continue to provide the programs, services and facilities desired by the community in the existing facilities which continue to be maintained in their optimum condition, and enhanced, when necessary, in a fiscally responsible manner.
-- To continue the environmentally friendly improvement of all facilities and parks.
-- The collaborative cooperation of the Park District, the Deerfield Historical Society, and the other bodies politic within the village including the Village of Deerfield, the Library, District 109, District 113 and West Deerfield Township to turn one of the sixty year old park district owned rental houses on the site which was the focal point of the worst chapter in Deerfield's history into a museum to educate all people of our community and the entire Chicago area of the events that occurred at that time. It was a time and place of racism, inequality and injustice and our community played a major wrongful role in perpetuating it. This museum and education center will allow our community to acknowledge and own our past and move forward in reinforcing together that we are a welcoming, open and inclusive community where racism and inequality have no place.

Why should voters trust you?

I am not comfortable tooting my own horn, but I have always strove to be, for myself, and as a role model for my children, an honest, honorable and fair minded individual in every aspect of my life. Hopefully my record speaks for itself. I am confident that this would be confirmed by my family, friends, neighbors, clients, business associates and anyone who has had contact with me regarding park district matters.

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

Once again, I believe my record speaks for itself. I take great pride in being fiscally conservative and responsible. In fact, the District is one of only 11 park districts in the State of Illinois who holds Moody's Bond and Issuer Ratings of Aaa. One need only consider all of the major capital improvements, such as the acquisition of the former Multiplex and its current use as a recreation and fitness center, the Patty Turner Center, the complete replacement of a fifty year old community pool, renovations, improvements and enhancements of playgrounds throughout the parks, that had been carefully budgeted for with long term planning and vision to minimize the tax impact on residents. I encourage you to visit www.parkboardincumbents.com and to open the Fiscal Responsibility and Accomplishment tabs for many more details.

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:

Every day is a blessing. Make it a great day or not, the choice is yours.

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

Deerfield is a great community of which the Park District is an integral part. I want to continue to do my part in order to help the Park District and the community continue to thrive and prosper. I bring to the Board a lawyer's sense of fairness and justice, an ability to negotiate and compromise, and the acumen and insight that I have developed over 37 years of legal experience. I have a genuine and vested interest in seeing that Park District facilities, programs, and activities are offered for the benefit of all members of all ages of our community and believe that I can continue to contribute insight and feedback both personally and from the community at large to that end and hope that you feel the same when you vote on April 6th.