Smart Growth
As a member of the Plan Commission, I recognized that growth and development are crucial to a vibrant community. New development should work within the surrounding neighborhood and coordinate with the City's Master Plan. Planning should respond to neighborhood needs and concerns but should also incorporate creative, big-picture problem-solving and vision.
Fair Government
Tax dollar spending should continue to focus on essential municipal responsibilities before money is spent studying and promoting new, non-essential projects. Communication and coordination with the school districts and the Park District are critical to maximizing tax dollar efficiencies.
Environmental Preservation
We need to preserve the community that we all love - open spaces, healthy trees and ravines, a clean, accessible lakefront, and connected neighborhoods. When I served on the City's Environmental Commission, I founded the City's Environmental Education Program for students in kindergarten through eighth grade in an effort to introduce them to ecological problem-solving. I also initiated Ravinia Festival's recycling program, which resulted in a 300% increase in the volume of recyclable refuse collected.