Grayslake Village Board Race: Laura Dias 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 newcomer Laura Dias:

Age (as of Election Day)

39

Town/City of Residence

Grayslake, IL

Office Sought

Village board or city council

Party Affiliation (if a partisan race)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

no

Education

Bachelor of Science in Secondary Social Studies Education from Indiana University, Masters of Arts in Bicultural Education from Wayne State University

Occupation

Teaching 2004 - 2014, Owner Faver Dias Group LLC 2015 - Present

Campaign website

LauraforGrayslake.com

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Appointed to the Grayslake Economic Development Commission since 2019

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

Grayslake needs future forward leadership. Our world is rapidly changing and we need new ideas and innovative leadership that will take us into the next phase of this century. I will work to create economic incentives to draw in the exploding green technology industry to widen our tax base and offset the burden on taxpayers. I will advocate to use technology to make public meetings more accessible to all by allowing people the option to attend online or virtually. Our climate is changing and I will work to bring back the disbanded Environmental Commission with knowledgeable appointments who can advise on navigating our Village through changes in weather patterns. I will actively seek input from all people in the community to ensure we are prepared for the future.

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 was proud to attend the student-led peaceful rally this summer in Grayslake, which was attended by over 2,000 people. I was disappointed that the Village Board members did not participate in an official capacity and join with other elected officials in supporting the student organizers. This was a missed opportunity to bring the community together in a time of needed healing.
I was also the only candidate who attended a Community Conversation at Village Hall, led by a Grayslake CLC student, that brought together members of the community and the Grayslake Chief of Police and Chief Deputy. We learned about the training, practices, and perspective of the Chief of Police. It was an impactful and meaningful evening thanks to the advocacy of a local young man and the partnership of the Grayslake Police Department.
I believe Black Lives Matter.

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

Systemic inequality exists in American society and there are many opportunities for working to dismantle those inequities at all levels of government. In Grayslake, I would like to see the Village Board and its appointed commissions more representative of our town. If elected, I will work to actively engage all members of the community and advocate for policies that improve equity and make local government more accessible to all.

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 Village should follow the guidelines that have been established by the Illinois Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control. As a small business owner, I understand firsthand the economic uncertainty during the pandemic. As a member of the Economic Development Commission, I supported the relief packages offered to local businesses. I support the state wide mask mandate.

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 believe the Village should serve as an information hub and communicate important information that is released by the Lake County Department of Health. As I have introduced myself to residents at their doors, I have provided information to several senior citizens about the Lake County hotline that has recently been implemented to help seniors find vaccine appointments.

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

I will offer a new voice and perspective on the Village Board. As a mom of young children, teacher, and small business owner, I will bring a different perspective than is currently on the Board. Teaching high school students and running my family business have honed my skills in problem solving, leadership and developing innovative ideas.
The Village government does not have debt thanks to a long tradition of solid fiscal management. However, I think it is time to look forward and I will provide a future facing perspective by working to recruit businesses in the exploding green technology industry. I will work to capitalize on our beautiful natural surroundings, like our Lake Co neighbors are doing to create an eco-tourism industry. Let’s use our bike path system and charming downtown to connect with other communities and strengthen our eco-tourism sector. This will bring in outside revenue that can help to reduce the burden on Grayslake tax payers.
Finally, I am a mom of young children. I understand the experience of young families in Grayslake. I know what it is like to choose this place to raise a family for its high quality of life and excellent school systems. I will be a voice on the Village Board that advocates for policies that create strong schools while providing innovative solutions to serve our community and maintain our sound financial footing.

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

I want to go on record by saying, I don’t believe the current board has “failed” the community. But I do believe if I am elected, I can more effectively serve all residents of Grayslake. Grayslake has a solid historical foundation, but I think it's time that we accelerate building a future forward economy. Let’s move from the past of a dominant residential tax base, and look to the future by building an economy based on high skilled, green technology jobs and expand this sector to reduce the property tax burdens on the people who already live here.
Grayslake deserves a more engaged and transparent Village Board. There are some simple steps the Village Board could take to intentionally reach out and engage residents more. I believe the Village should act as a leader in disseminating important information in times of crisis like the pandemic. If elected, I will actively and regularly communicate important information to residents such as how to secure a vaccine appointment or the details of how our small businesses can secure PPP loans. When there is a vacancy on the Board or one of the commissions, I will actively communicate and reach out to residents about these openings. I would work to ensure that due diligence is done and every effort and format is used to communicate the openings.
I am also a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion. I believe our elected and appointed officials should reflect the demographic makeup of Grayslake and I will advocate for skilled and knowledgeable people who would reflect the demographic representation of Grayslake - including women, people of color, and people with physical challenges.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Engaged and Transparent leadership: I will actively work to engage all members of the community and create new opportunities to meet residents and seek input from all people of Grayslake. If elected, I would love to implement “Walk with a Trustee” where residents can sign up and I will meet them in their neighborhood. We can walk and talk, and I will answer questions, listen to their concerns and see firsthand any challenges their neighborhood might be facing. Research has shown that public officials must be innovative in their approach to engaging their community and must actively pursue community input. I am passionate about connecting with people and learning from them, and I will create new ideas and opportunities to engage the public and provide transparency.
Fiscally Responsible Environmental Policy: Grayslake needs thoughtful, fiscally responsible environmental policy. It has a tradition of moving towards sustainability and it was one of the aspects that drew my family here. I want to look to the future with that tradition by placing solar panels on village owned buildings. This will reduce operational expenditures and reduce our carbon footprint. The Village mows and maintains 514 acres of grass, I propose we switch at some to native plants. This will reduce our mowing and maintenance costs, and improve our rainwater absorption.
New ideas and innovation: I will bring a fresh perspective to the Village Board, one that is continually investigating and researching ways to improve our community and one that listens and learns from experts and from the lived experiences of residents.
Improved Intergovernmental Cooperation: Our entire community and all our levels of government should be working together to move Grayslake forward. While individual taxing bodies exist, when governing bodies work together to develop a common vision our entire community benefits and all the quality of all of our lives are improved. We need to work together as taxing districts to offset costs. I will work to advocate for quarterly meetings for the leaders of our governing bodies to openly communicate and brainstorm how they can work together for the good of the Village.
Celebrating Diversity: I am committed to ensuring that all voices are empowered to speak up and be heard. Diversity should be celebrated and our local government should reflect the makeup of our community. I will work to ensure that all people regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, gender identity have equal access to public services. I will advocate for our Village leadership to more accurately reflect the demographics of our community.

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

I am passionate, driven, open minded and have a history of leadership throughout my life.
I chose to teach in high poverty high schools. Though the schools were severely underfunded and under-resourced, I set the school record for the highest number of students passing the A.P. Human Geography Course. I won awards for excellence in teaching and I was nominated for a Golden Apple award while teaching at a school that had the highest population of homeless students in the state. The students I taught faced difficult challenges, and I was honored to bring creativity and passion to my classroom as I led them through navigating high school and life.
For the last 6 years, I have worked as a partner and operations manager in my family’s small business. Growing up, this small family business was a staple of my day to day life. My dad built rental properties and my mom managed them, while my sister and I were expected to clean and paint them when residents moved out. The story of my family’s business was one American Dreams are made of with my parents starting with little means and building a respectable small family business. However, after their retirement and stepping back from the business, its potential was starting to decline. I rolled up my sleeves and got to work. I have grown revenue by over 30%, acquired property and land for development, and transitioned from manual record keeping to cloud based software. Our family business has also become a leader in energy efficiency rental property with the recent installation of solar panels which will deliver attractive returns and lower utility costs for the residents.
I am dedicated, hard working, and resilient in my professional life and in service to my community through serving on my church board, teaching citizenship classes at HACES, to founding the PTO at my boys’ school.

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

My term in office would be a success if Grayslake is ready for the future with an expanded future forward commercial tax base that reduces the burden on taxpayers. I will feel accomplished when the Village of Grayslake is equipped with resilient policies that protect our environment. I will have served successfully when the whole community is engaged with the Village Board and all residents are included in the decision making process.

Why should voters trust you?

After extensive research, my husband and I specifically chose to raise our family in Grayslake. It was the best choice and we are so grateful to have planted roots in this wonderful community. I want to serve this community to help move Grayslake forward and make sure we are prepared for the future at every front - economically, environmentally, socially - so that all residents can fully access and enjoy what Grayslake has to offer.

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

Elected officials must be conscientious, responsible stewards of taxpayers’ hard earned money. If elected, I will continue to support policies that keep the Village debt free while looking for innovative ideas to widen our commercial tax base and reduce the burden on taxpayers. As a small business owner, I understand tough choices that leaders have to make and the importance of having a long term mindset and outlook.

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:

My mom instilled in me from a very young age the wise guidance of Luke 12:48, “To whom much is given, much is required.” It has been a life motto for me. I have a roof over my head, food on my table, a family that supports me and I get to live in a community I love. It is my obligation to my community and humanity to work to serve my neighbors and I do so with humility and joy.

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

I am running to serve this community that I love. I bring a fresh voice to the Village Board as well as my experience of having served on the Economic Development Commission. My goal is to represent all voices in Grayslake. I would love to answer any questions or listen to ideas that community members have and I would encourage you to reach out to me at LauraforGrayslake.com. It would be an honor to serve this town I love as Village Trustee.