Park District Of Highland Park Board Candidate: Jen Freeman

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Ahead of the April 6 consolidated municipal elections, Highland Park Patch provided questionnaires to all candidates on the ballot.

Three candidates are seeking two available seats on the Park District of Highland Park Board of Commissioners. The include one incumbent and two challengers.

Highland Park Patch is publishing all responses submitted by candidates verbatim and in the order they have been received.

Jen Freeman

Age (as of Election Day)
44

Town/City of Residence
Highland Park

Office Sought
Park board

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

Education

University of Wisconsin - Madison, WI (1998)
DePaul University College of Law - Chicago, IL (2001)

Occupation

Civil Litigation Attorney for Chicago Law Firm (2001-2004)
Business Development Professional for Chicago Tech Company (2004-present)

Campaign website

jenfreemanforparkdistrict.com

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

N/A

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

The Park District of Highland Park maintains 700 acres of land, 44 parks and beaches and 11 sports and nature facilities. This past year, the District saw a significant revenue decline from facility closures and program cancellations due to COVID-19. The District will need to make up for lost revenue while maintaining and improving aging properties.

The condition of several district assets is currently below what residents expect from the Park District. Tackling maintenance while working larger initiatives into long-range planning will require creativity, skill and cooperation from other units of local government. I am prepared to do the work to ensure that all residents of Highland Park have access to our beaches, parks, facilities and programs and that all available land is utilized to its maximum potential.

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 support Black Lives Matter. The world inherently isn’t fair. Some of us have a natural advantage as a result and we need to recognize that before we can address it. Steps we take to formally to educate ourselves about systemic inequities, challenge constructs that further exacerbate inequality and combat racism is good work.

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

There is no shortage of opportunity for growth in this area. In my role with the Parks Foundation Board, I helped create visibility for and enhanced the S.M.I.L.E. scholarship program as one means of driving equity in programming. As a Park District Commissioner, I would continue this work and champion any initiatives that meaningfully narrow the equity gap.

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?

America has faced a global pandemic in an unsettling political climate. I believe in science and the national institutions that we have charged with applying science to a healthcare crisis response. Until a few years ago, I would have guessed my opinion was shared almost universally in the US. I now know that it is not. Said institutions have been undermined and understaffed and it’s going to take some time to resolve and repair the damage so that businesses and their patrons may make safe decisions without being forced.

Decisions to limit operations of any businesses are nuanced. Protocol must be flexible and driven by reliable data that may change dramatically on a weekly basis. Those imposing limitations must take other risks into account to avoid absurd results. The bottom line is that we need to make informed decisions based upon universally held truths.

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?

Any pandemic response should be a nationally coordinated non-partisan effort. The COVID-19 pandemic was politicized, and the resulting vaccine distribution challenges are self-evident. Where local governments remain proactive and open to collaboration, we see less friction in achieving vaccination goals.

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

The most obvious critical difference is that if elected I will be the only woman serving on the Park District Board. I also have three school-aged children (ages 12, 10 and 7) currently involved in Park District programming, which also makes me the only parent with a young family.

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

Young families account for 40% of the District constituency and deserve to have a representative voice that would be missing on the next Board without me.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Whether we are taking about public schools, public parks, public programs. It’s important that we all partake and participate in the institutions that reinforce our sense of belonging. The things we do together build our collective strength and serve as an example for other similar communities.

Operating public spaces where everyone can enjoy fresh air, physical activity and leisurely pursuits is integral to the fabric of any community. Operating these spaces in a manner that entices everyone to join and participate is key to offering a depth and breadth of programming for all district residents.

The Park District budget is derived from programming revenue, memberships, grants, donations and tax revenue – a delicate balance of investment and spend that must be carefully managed. I am prepared to work with other board members to determine how best to use the land and funds available to the District. In HP, we tend to make some endeavors more complicated and expensive than they need to be. If elected, I will encourage my fellow board members to keep moving forward and not let “perfect” be the enemy of “good”.

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

I have spent the past twenty years practicing professional dispute resolution and driving consensus of stakeholders involved in implementing complex enterprise technology solutions. Both require knowledge, patience, discretion and creativity.

Specifically, for the past several years in Highland Park, I have been active in various local boards, committees, community groups, PTOs and other initiatives.

As a Parks Foundation Board Member (2017-2019), working closely with Park District administration, I learned a widely-shared confidence in District programming facilities is essential to inspire the participation required to deliver quality programming and high-value memberships that residents can afford. I helped raise awareness for the S.M.I.L.E. program and fund scholarships for those who are financially unable to participate in Park District programming.

I have worked with the City and Park District in planning and executing the Stupey Cabin Harvest Festival and look forward to future opportunities to collaborate across local units of government as a member of the Historical Society Board.

In 2016, I was selected for the NSSD112 Reconfiguration 2.0 Community Team to parse financial and other data, and gather community feedback, to ultimately design a District Roadmap for right-sizing the district footprint and presenting that recommendation to the 112 School Board and Administration. I also moderate a community-focused sounding board on social media pertaining to ongoing changes for District 112 (since 2015) and taken part in District 112 and 113 caucuses to vet and endorse school board candidates (2017-2018).

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

I will continue to iterate and execute on Greenprint and the detailed long-range plans it encompasses for future generations. Greenprint 2024 was hatched in 2015 and we have seen apparent success from past boards. The community has changed and continues to evolve. Together we will gather community input and forge ahead and will be most successful in that endeavor working closely with the City of Highland Park and our 112 and 113 school districts.

Why should voters trust you?

Voters should trust me because I have spent the last several years working to earn it. I come to this role free from any personal agenda. There is no single issue driving my candidacy and my track record of community involvement demonstrates a well-rounded interest in working toward the benefit of all Highland Park residents.

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

The Park District of Highland Park maintains 700 acres of land, 44 parks and beaches and 11 sports and nature facilities. This is impressive by any measure. The Park District budget is derived from programming revenue, memberships, grants, donations and tax revenue. The ideal expenditure balance has been understandably and unquestionably thrown out of whack by the COVID pandemic. The revenue generating arm of the district effectively closed for a considerable length of time. I expect that to revert, but we need to be creative going forward because the needs and desires of programming participants have shifted over time in a meaningful way.

As a patron of Sunset Valley, the Rec Center, fitness classes, early childhood programs, dance classes, sports leagues venue rentals and summer camps, I welcome the opportunity to help PD administration tweak offerings to more effectively drive revenue in our post-pandemic years.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

I absolutely intend to serve my full term if elected.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

“We are all just people. Some of us have more tools in our toolbox than others. Make use of your tools, generously share them and don’t be afraid to borrow from others where needed.”

My mother has a way of making a point and this advice is no exception. This is the underlying message in my personal mission statement – which hasn’t changed in twenty years. My mission in life is to use my mind, voice and hands to create the richest life experience possible for those I encounter on my journey.

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

I believe that public service is an important part of belonging to a community and I strive to participate in public service in some way at all times. It is incredibly rewarding to achieve goals as part of a community team and for the next six years, I would like the Park District Board to be my public service endeavor.

I also appreciate that it is not my responsibility alone. I am asking for your vote to be one of five members of a decision-making body representing tens of thousands of residents. I don’t view the responsibility lightly when I ask you to get behind me for this job. When we take turns serving each other and pitch in toward collective greatness, we can do big things.