Related: Updated: Trustee Candidates Forum Hangs in Limbo
Save Buffalo Grove, a grassroots group of citizens concerned about the proposed downtown Buffalo Grove development, will host a public forum for trustee candidates. The candidates will be invited to discuss, among other topics, their views on the downtown proposal.
The event will be held from 7-9:30 p.m. March 7 in the Village Bar and Grill's back room.
Trustees Beverly Sussman, Andy Stein and Les Ottenheimer, who are seeking re-election, and Jeff Battinus, a write-in candidate, are running for three seats in the April 9 election. All four have agreed to attend the event, Save Buffalo Grove leaders said in a Feb. 20 press release.
“We would like to hear about the challenges and opportunities they see for Buffalo Grove, hear how they’d handle them, and get their perspectives on the downtown plan," Leon Gopon, a member of Save Buffalo Grove's steering committee, said in the statement. "This forum is a good way to learn about each candidate and hear the positions they’ll be accountable for — even though each one is running unopposed. I was pleased at how eager they all were to meet with our group and participate.”
“I’m excited to see these Buffalo Grove trustees participating in a public forum about the proposed downtown Buffalo Grove development. The great response to our petition drive for a referendum the downtown plan shows that residents from all corners of Buffalo Grove are interested in participating on this important issue,” said Brian Costin, another steering committee member, said in the group's statement. “This forum will be an opportunity for citizens to ask the trustees important questions about the downtown development, and under what circumstances the trustees would support a referendum."
According to the group, each trustee candidate will have about 20 minutes to present the following:
- Who am I? A brief biography
- What being a trustee means to me; why am I running?
- 1-2 issues/projects I work on
- 1-2 bright opportunities facing Buffalo Grove?
- 1-2 challenges facing BG…and how I’d handle them
- My perspective on the downtown Buffalo Grove plan
- My perspective on a community-wide referendum on the downtown plan, will I support it?
- Other key points
Time will also be allowed for questions from the audience.
Will you attend this forum? What questions do you have for the candidates? Tell us in the comment section below.
Related stories on Patch:
- Complete downtown Buffalo Grove coverage
- Buffalo Grove's Contested 2013 Races
- Battinus to Run as Write-In Trustee Candidate
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Ellie
12:34 pm on Saturday, February 23, 2013
The village of Buffalo Grove has a AAA bond rating, which is excellent - and rare these days - for an American city. What will happen to our bond rating if this massive project goes "sour"? The economy is flat. BG's annual budget is only about 65 billion, yet the new "Downtown" proposal involves 320 billion dollars! Who eventually will be stuck with the tab?
Ellie
12:35 pm on Saturday, February 23, 2013
Correction: Change billion to million.
Nancy
11:07 pm on Saturday, February 23, 2013
See you on 3/7