Grayslake Village Board Race: Adam Shores Profile

GRAYSLAKE, IL — There are three incumbents and one newcomer vying for three open seats on the Grayslake Village Board this spring. Patch.com reached out to candidates, requesting they fill out a survey showcasing their views on various topics.

Here is the profile for incumbent Adam Shores:

Age (as of Election Day): 45

Town/City of Residence: Grayslake

Office Sought: Village board or city council

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

Education: BS in Politics and Journalism - Troy University; MPS in Political Management - George Washington University

Occupation: Vice President of State Government and Political Relations - American Property Casualty Insurance Association (one year)

Campaign website: www.grayslakestrong.com

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: Grayslake Village Trustee

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.: Without a doubt, the biggest issue facing Grayslake residents is the financial burden of property taxes. It is the number one issue I encounter in my conversations with residents. And while much of this is driven by actions of the state and other taxing bodies, my colleagues and I on the Village Board are focused on a plan to help ease this burden where we can. For the past several years, I have been a leading voice on the Board to either freeze our tax levy or to take less than is available to us under the cap. In addition, through my service on the Economic Development Commission, I am focused on a plan to continue to diversify the tax base by fostering continued economic development. We have attracted new businesses to town and worked to maintain the ones we have here, competing with Wisconsin to keep our economy strong, keep jobs here in Grayslake and help offset residential property taxes. I want to keep that momentum going if reelected to the Board.

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?: Yes, I applaud the collective efforts of millions of Americans to peacefully raise their voices in support of those whose voices have been silenced or hindered. This last summer, thousands of those voices came together right here in Grayslake in a peaceful and poignant way to raise awareness for the need for change and to combat the evils of racism that have plagued our country for far too long. I have always been a strong proponent of civic engagement. In fact, that has been a driving factor in my desire to serve the public. I believe very strongly in empowering people to make their voices heard in the political process. This is something that was instilled in me at an early age and something that has defined my professional career path. This belief is especially true as it relates to young Americans, and I applaud those who peacefully joined together to take on that cause.

Do you think the current board has done enough to support racial equality, and if not, what specifically should be done to do so?: One of my favorite things about Grayslake is that the fabric of our collective greatness is woven together by the qualities of our individual uniqueness. We need to celebrate and include all backgrounds into our fold, and I believe the Village continues to do that. We continually look for opportunities to promote our unique differences and perspectives, and I look forward to adding to that in my next term.

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?: There’s no doubt that the pandemic has taken its toll on all of us. While most people probably look to the federal and state government to handle the response to the virus, there is a clear role for local leaders to step in and work for their residents. And that is exactly what we’ve done. One major example of this is the Dine-in Restaurant Incentive Grant Program, which was a reduction in sales taxes that I voted to provide to our local restaurants. To date, we have provided more than $180,000 in cash payments to eligible restaurants that equal about 30 percent of their 2019 sales taxes to the Village to be used for mortgage or rent payments, payroll, or operating supplies. In addition, we have also deferred payment of liquor license fees and local business license renewals. For our hardest hit residents, we have waived late fees and shut-off notices for delinquent water bills to help people who are struggling with the impact of the pandemic. Thanks to the decisions my colleagues and I have made, we are in a position of financial strength to do these things and be there for people when they need us most.

I believe we must strike a balance between controlling the spread of the virus and allowing businesses to safely operate within state and federal safety guidelines. The science tells us that social distancing and wearing masks have saved lives and I support that. I have also supported the Village’s efforts to help local businesses through our tax incentive programs, special accommodations for outdoor dining and through promotional campaigns encouraging people to shop local. I will also continue to encourage our local restaurants to adhere to state and county guidelines on safe business operations.

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?: I think there are some clear opportunities for improvement in the vaccine distribution process. More partnership between state and federal governments and local government would make a big impact. In many cases local government, including Grayslake, has the flexibility to be nimbler in operation, and I believe we could develop a streamlined, efficient process for prioritizing and distributing vaccines. In addition, perhaps the most important thing Grayslake leaders can do is be a conduit of information to citizens and a facilitator of resources for people who need them. We have a community notification system for things like water boil orders and other emergencies, and this would be an area where we could leverage tools like that to keep residents informed with up-to-date information on vaccinations.

As leaders in the Village, we work hard to maintain strong partnerships with other government agencies and organizations in our community and that has helped us take the lead in facilitating solutions to operational challenges. For example, the Lake County Fairgrounds is a vaccination site and was considered as a possible temporary medical facility early on in the pandemic. Our ability as a Village Board to lean into our existing partnerships and help coordinate with other agencies on planning for use of facilities within the Village like the fairgrounds is critical.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?: The thing that sets me apart is that I bring a combination of experience and fresh ideas. I am unique in that I strike a balance between being a fresh voice with new ideas and a leader with a record of accomplishment. I am one of the newer members to the Board, but I also understand the challenges and opportunities in front of us and have been working to make Grayslake a strong community. I don’t need on-the-job training to continue my focus on smart government that works for all of our residents.

I have 20-plus years of professional experience in public affairs and communication, and I know how to navigate political considerations and successfully advocate for important issues. I understand what it means to be a servant leader and a good steward of the public’s trust.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency): While I am in incumbent, that does not mean that I don’t think there are new ways to build upon existing success. One idea that I want to work on in my next term is enhancing the ways in which the Village communicates to its residents. This idea came to light during the pandemic, when we had to shift our approach to public meetings by switching to an online virtual platform. This presented a new way for residents to connect with their government and I would like to use this as an example to build upon our existing outreach mechanisms to the community to not only inform people of Village issues but provide them with more ways to become further engaged.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform: My platform centers on fiscal responsibility, lower taxes, continued economic development, smart infrastructure and a healthy environment. These things are all intertwined. Fiscal responsibility isn’t just about managing dollars and cents. It’s about putting us in a position to make our town the place that people have come to know and love. We are one of only two debt-free municipalities in the entire state. That, in addition to maintaining a balanced budget, helps us add to the vibrancy of Grayslake.

Because we responsibly manage taxpayers’ money, we are able to smartly invest in our community through efforts such as adding to our green space, like the new Gelatin Park; expanding quality of life opportunities, like our new bike share program; attracting new businesses to offset residential property taxes; and adding to the vibrancy of our downtown through new restaurants that serve as gathering places for residents and attractions for visitors to our town.
All of these things working in tandem add to our success and strength as a community.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?: My record speaks for itself as an accomplished member of the Village Board. I have worked hard over the last five years to keep our share of property taxes low, enhance property values and add to the quality of life for residents. I am proud of the work I have done to attract new businesses through my work on the Economic Development Commission as well as the Community Involvement Grant Program that I authored in 2019 to provide grants to Grayslake non-profit organizations whose work adds to the wellbeing of our town.

I do not pretend to have all the answers to the issues we face, but my approach has always to been to have an open mind to new ideas, listen to others’ opinions and work with and through them to solve problems in a way that benefits everyone.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?: Two things come to mind as the top agenda items for me in my next term. I want to focus on expanding the development of the Central Range south of downtown. Developing this area in a smart, environmentally conscious way will add to our overall growth through job creation and non-residential property tax revenue. I also think it is critical that we build upon the great work we have done on the issue of sustainability. We have a great story to tell about how we protect our environment, whether through our solar energy efforts, expansion of green space or our investment in connectivity through innovative ideas like our bike share program. I want to keep our focus on these and other projects to protect our natural surroundings.

Why should voters trust you?: I ask for the trust and support of my fellow residents of Grayslake because we are all friends and neighbors who share a common experience. Our kids go to schools together. We’re involved in the same churches and community group activities. We even share the same frustrations about getting caught by trains! My point is that we’re all in this together. And for me, Grayslake isn’t just the place I live. It’s my home and I care deeply about our collective success.

In addition, I would like to think people can trust me because I am there for them when they need me. When I say I will do something, I do it. More importantly, if I don’t think I can do something, I will tell them as much while still looking for ways to help them out.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the use of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?: Government needs to live within its means, especially when taxpayers look to us to help ease the burden of high taxes. We are the stewards of their money and we need to use it wisely and sparingly. To that end, I’m very proud of the fiscally responsible approach I have taken on the Board. Grayslake is only one of two debt-free municipalities in Illinois. This, coupled with our balanced budget and pay-as-you-go approach to spending, positions us well. Unlike other local governments who have to issue bond referenda to pay for infrastructure, we don’t. We don’t pay for projects until we have the money to do so. And thanks to long term planning, our water and sewer systems are in strong shape, our roads are well maintained and the services we provide our residents are low cost. I support the innovative cost sharing programs we have implemented such as the sharing of police services with Hainesville as well as other intergovernmental agreements with other taxing bodies in Grayslake.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?: No. Serving on the Grayslake Village Board has been the honor of my professional life. And I look forward to continuing to work for my friends and neighbors everyday to make our town even more special than it already is.

The best advice ever shared with me was: There’s a saying that goes, “Listen to learn. Learn how to listen. You can't learn anything when you're talking.” I think that is what leadership is all about and it is what has guided me in my service on the Village Board.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?: As we all know, elections can sometimes be tense. In the middle of a campaign season, we can get caught up in daily back and forth of who’s right and who’s wrong. But that’s not what politics should be about. We should be focused on figuring out how we can bridge divides, work together and find solutions to help our community succeed.

That starts at the local level, and we have an opportunity in this spring’s election to show how that can be the case. I am a consensus builder who can bridge differing opinions to find workable solutions to issues. I believe that’s the kind of leader the people of Grayslake want, and I ask for their vote on April 6th to keep our momentum going.