Endorsement of Davis Schneiderman: Letter

Written and submitted by Peggy Laemle

It is my great pleasure to endorse Davis Schneiderman to fill the remaining two years of Paul Frank’s term on our City Council. Community vitality (retaining strong business districts, vibrant neighborhoods and our City’s unique architecture), walkability, and health for residents and our environment have been my core beliefs in over 40 years of community action, and I have seen these values mirrored in Davis’ community engagements.

I met him during a protracted and frequently acrimonious struggle to restore Rosewood Beach. He spoke eloquently and persuasively in favor of its improvements, which have made our beach a community gathering spot year-round for residents. Davis has since joined the organization – Ravinia Neighbors Association - that led the opposition to restoring Rosewood. His thoughtful leadership led him to be selected as a board member for the RNA, where he has been active in increasing outreach and inclusivity, and improving the organization’s procedures for dealing with community concerns.

His belief in preserving the highest number of neighborhood schools that will make our district financially sustainable, and which create friendly, walkable and safer neighborhoods, in part inspired him to volunteer as a member of the “No” group that worked to defeat the $198-million 112 referendum to build a single middle school. As a career professor and higher education administrator, Davis is fully committed to investing in education, but he agreed with two-thirds of our community in asking for a better plan. After the referendum failed, he was asked to serve as one of the six launch team members for the Reconfiguration 2.0 community team, seeking a solution that our residents can support. In this capacity, he works closely with many people who supported the referendum, which again demonstrates his collaborative approach to problem solving. I have great faith our community will support the conclusions recommended by the 2.0 team, of which Davis has been an integral part.

Highland Park has been working on sustainability issues for many years, efforts that have become more focused since passage in 2010 of the Highland Park Community Sustainability Strategic Plan. Currently, as chair of our City’s Transportation Commission and co-chair of our Bike-Walk Advisory Group, I am working on transforming our car culture into a more bike/walk-focused culture. Retaining neighborhood schools to which children can walk or bike will achieve some of our community’s goals, for I believe it is with our children that behavioral changes best occur, values shared by Davis.

I believe Davis Schneiderman would be a great voice to add to our City Council. Please join me in voting for him on April 4th, or as an early voter beginning March 20th.

Thank you.
Peggy Laemle