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Politics & Government

Live Blogging: Chamber Hosts Meet & Greet with Village Board Hopefuls

Follow us as we give you a play-by-play of the event.

We're live blogging the Wilmette Chamber of Commerce-hosted forum featuring Village Board trustee candidates. Each candidate is having an intimate, 10-minute conversation with Chamber President Patrick McFadden and Director Marguerite McKenna. Follow the updates below to see what each candidate had to say about business-related questions.

Michael Bailey @ 5:55 p.m.:
When asked about his background: "The best thing about running has been getting to know the great people of Wilmette. I hadn’t realized that just by running you get tuned into the community."

When asked about economic development: "Task one is setting on this difficult task of seriously amending our zoning ordinances. When I look at the we need to be bold, but at the same time we need to be balanced and thoughtful."

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Julie Wolf @ 6:14 p.m.:
When asked about her background/Wilmette: "I've lived in Wilmette for 25 years. I also am very involved in other aspects at Wilmette. ... I feel my background in small business experiences is good background for Wilmette."

When asked about growing the business community: "With more people in the center area, I think they would come to those [Plaza del Lago, 4th and Linden. . . ] places too. ... I think the advertising campaign is good, to get the word to people outside to Wilmette who might want to come in."

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When asked about Mastr Plan implementation in these economic times: "As far as the zoning, it would specify setbacks for Green Bay Road. It would set up a way to differentiate it, to identify that you're in Wilmette. It would be like Hubbard Woods in that aspect. The plan specifically encourages no one architectural type. ... It is a big financial consideration. I think that publicizing it and moving ahead as quickly as possible."

Mike Basil @ 6:25 p.m.:
When asked why he's running again: "Four years ago I got into this and four years ago eveyrone knows we had the same sleepy downtown. I think we have unfufilled potential for development. ... I feel like I have a lot to contribute in that department and continue to push us toward a better, more vibrant downtown. ... I'm part of the party who brought the Master Plan to Wilmette. I got into this four years ago hoping to give us a shot in the arm, and I'm hoping to continue to do that."

When asked about environmental consequences: "As far as traffic and noise and air pollution, I have realized that the whole Green Bay Road is a multi-variable calculus problem. It involves federal, state and local government. It is an example of where things set in motion long ago are impacting us today. I think parking and traffic would be a desirable problem to have. I'd rather have that problem than the alternative."

Basil also indicated that he would not mandate LEED certification in development.

When asked how the Master Plan goes from a plan to reality: "One of the best non-financial tools we have is upzoning the property. I think it's widely regarded as the best property for that. ... The best we can do is upzone the property and allow developers to build higher, more dense structures than what we're used to."

Dan Kaplan @ 6:36:
When asked about his background: "I've lived in Wilmette since 1984. I have worked with local governments my entire career. I began as a CPA. ... I've had my business since 1996. I know what's going on with municipalities in this state. The choices are going to be more difficult to make over the next few years. ... It's that challenge that prompted me to run as village trustee."

When asked about growing the business community: "I'm certainly concerned about zoning and permitting. For business it's a cost, for government in some ways it's a necessity. ... Zoning is going to be a new issue for me. I want to learn more about the process. I want to make sure it's going to be done as expeditiously as possible."

When asked about environmental consequences of business growth: "On the Master Plan I think there are some good thoughts on how to master the traffic patterns. If we build a garage west of Green Bay Road, I have to believe that will alleviate some of the problems."

Doug Rathe @ 6:46 p.m.:
When asked about his background: "I do really two kinds of work: my primary form of work is that I'm on the Federal Defender panel, which means I'm a contract attorney for the federal government. ... I just had one of the more exciting moments in my life. A week ago Sunday you might remember the League of Women Voters forum. The next morning I was sworn in by the Supreme Court as an attorney. I have a lot of the same concerns that any small business owner would have, though I am entirely a business of one."

When asked about growing the business community: [Pulled out a map of the Village of Wilmette.] "My concern is that in Wilmette's budget, property makes up 37 percent and sales tax makes up 13 percent. I would love to see the sales tax increase. That would take some of the burden off the property tax potentially. ... If the business community is healthy it's going to attract people to Wilmette."

"I’d like to see if we can convince some more regional and national restaurant chains to come to Wilmette. ... I don’t see why we can’t have a McDonald’s here."

When asked about environmental consequences: "I am a big believer in the environment, but at the same time, I don't want to make things ridiculous for people to do business. There can be a balance; it doesn't have to be one or another."

Bob Bielinski @ 7 p.m.:
When asked about his background: "This is an area that interests me. I think I've got a background that can make a real contribution to the board. With regards to my business background, first of my 20 years of experience are relevant to what the board does. ...  I also served as a financial executive for restaurant and retail companies in the 1990s. I understand that sometimes government may not be as helpful as they desire to be."

When asked about growing business: "I think there should be an open dialogue with the business community and the board. If there are things we can do to help, I want to help."

When asked about environmental consequences of growth: "I'm all for smart development in Wilmette. Those issues need to be flushed out. At the end of the day the village isn't going to dictate how development is done. We need to be flexible. I think the Village needs to be flexible, but we need to balance all of the concerns for it to be a smart plan."

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