1. Why did you decide to run for mayor?
I was raised with the belief that servant leadership means using your talents to benefit the community. During my five-year tenure as mayor, the Village Board has made great strides in bringing long-discussed projects to life, including the downtown streetscape, storm sewer improvements, the sidewalk connecting Gull Landings to the rest of the community, and ensuring the stability of the police pension fund. However, there’s still more to do to keep Peotone a great place to live and raise a family. I would be honored to continue serving alongside my fellow Village Board members to build on that progress.
2. Have you held public office before?
I served on the Village of Peotone Plan Commission for over 15 years, spending many of those years as chair. In 2015, I was elected as a Village Trustee and served for five years. In 2020, I was appointed by the Village Board to complete the previous mayor’s term and was subsequently elected to a four-year term as Mayor (Village President) in 2021.
3. What is your background (length of time lived in Peotone, education, career)?
I have lived in Peotone my entire life — 66 years and counting! I am a proud graduate of Peotone High School, Class of 1977. I attended the University of Illinois in Champaign and Chicago, earning my DDS degree in 1984. After dental school, I took over my father’s dental practice and have been serving the Peotone community for over 40 years. While I now practice on a reduced schedule, I continue to enjoy helping patients with their oral health care needs. My wife, Elizabeth, and I have raised three children in Peotone and now have six grandchildren and counting!
4. What community involvement, organization, affiliations, or club memberships do you have?
I have been actively involved in Scouting for many years, serving as an adult leader in the local pack and troop, as well as spending over five years on the regional executive board. I have also held various leadership positions in both local and state dental societies. Additionally, I served a term on St. Paul’s Parish Council, contributing to the church’s mission and community outreach efforts. I was involved with the Historical Society of Peotone for over 15 years, serving as treasurer and helping to raise tens of thousands of dollars toward the restoration of the Rathje Mill.
5. What characteristics, qualifications, or experience do you feel you possess to be mayor?
I am an honest person with high integrity and strong morals, and I would never seek personal gain from the position of mayor. I believe in listening to all points of view and carefully considering every aspect of a problem before proposing a solution. Once the Village Board makes a decision, I work tirelessly to bring it to fruition.
With many years of leadership experience across various organizations, I bring the skills necessary to lead effectively as mayor. As a lifelong Peotone resident with many years of participating in the Village Government I have a unique perspective on the issues facing our community. I understand past discussions and efforts, which allow me to apply that knowledge to develop viable solutions for today’s challenges.
My five years of experience as mayor have been invaluable. While my background in business and leadership provided a strong foundation, leading a municipal government requires a distinct skill set. I have been deeply involved in personnel decisions, budget development, financial investments, securing grants, obtaining bond financing, project development, and community outreach. Upon re-election, I will continue building on these skills to keep Peotone moving forward.
Additionally, attending countless county and state meetings has enabled me to cultivate strong relationships with local and regional leaders, as well as business professionals. Having the ability to directly reach out to a congresswoman, state senator, legislator, county official, or business leader is an invaluable asset in advocating for our residents and securing opportunities for our community.
6. What do you think the Village needs right now and what would be the first thing you would do if you’re elected?
The village needs a clear action plan and stable leadership to build on the successes of the past few years. A lack of continuity in leadership and key staff positions has slowed our momentum, and it’s critical that we restore stability. My first priority would be to extend the contracts of our village administrator, Nick Palmer, and police chief, David DeMik. We are extremely fortunate to have leaders of their caliber, and their continued service is essential to our progress.
Additionally, I will hold a workshop with the Village Board to gather input on the direction our administration should take in the coming years. Together, we can establish clear priorities on key issues such as business and residential development, finances, building and code enforcement, public safety, and the stewardship of our village’s physical assets. As part of this effort, updating our comprehensive plan will be a major focus. We need a shared vision for how we want Peotone to grow (or not grow), ensuring that when developers approach us, we have clear guidelines to manage growth in a way that benefits our community.
Finally, I want to engage all stakeholders in developing a sensible plan for the Rathje Mill’s future (which I will expand on in question 10).
In short, if re-elected, my immediate priorities will be to solidify our leadership team and work collaboratively to develop a clear, forward-thinking vision for Peotone.
7. What are some long-term goals you would like to see the Village complete?
Some long-term goals I would like to see the Village accomplish include:
- Sustaining Downtown Revitalization – Continue the momentum of our downtown revival by ensuring our beautiful streetscape is well-maintained and by encouraging private investment through a façade improvement program.
- Promoting Business Development – Support and attract new businesses around the I-57 interchange, along Route 50, and within our downtown area to strengthen our local economy.
- Maintaining Strong Fiscal Responsibility – Ensure balanced budgets, make wise investments of our reserve funds, pursue grant opportunities, and continue properly funding the police pension to keep the Village financially stable.
- Improving Municipal Facilities – Develop a plan to enhance the physical facilities for our police and administrative departments, ensuring they have the resources needed to serve the community effectively.
- Investing in Infrastructure – Continue investing in our roads, sidewalks, and storm drainage to improve the overall quality of our infrastructure. I will continue prioritizing sidewalk repairs and expansion to enhance the walkability of our village. Additionally, we are currently working on a pedestrian and bike plan, which, once completed, should position us for future grant funding opportunities.
- Securing Long-Term Stability for Rathje Mill – Develop a plan and identify funding sources to ensure the Rathje Mill remains standing for generations to come. Preserving this historic landmark is a key part of maintaining our village’s heritage.
8. What do you feel the Village needs to improve and why?
To provide the services our residents need and desire, we must continue seeking additional revenue without placing extra financial burdens on our existing residents. Currently, our budget does not allow us to accomplish everything our community wants. Keeping up with road improvements, drainage issues, and infrastructure upgrades is a constant challenge within our annual budget constraints. Since our expenses are already lean, the only way to fund additional capital projects — such as roads, storm sewer improvements, and sidewalk expansions — is by increasing revenue. Encouraging new businesses to open in Peotone and supporting the success of existing businesses will help grow our property and sales tax base without adding to the tax burden on our residents. Additionally, we will continue to aggressively identify and apply for available grants to help fund these critical projects. In recent years, we have secured the most grant funding the village has received in recent memory, including a $2.5 million state grant for the downtown streetscape project and a $900,000 grant from Will County for the Conrad Street storm sewer project. Pursuing grant opportunities like these will remain a priority to help fund improvements without relying solely on local tax dollars.
We will also continue finding new ways to make village government more accessible to the community. Over the past few years, we have made significant progress in keeping residents informed through regular social media updates, videos, and e-newsletters. Additionally, we have improved transparency by making board meeting agendas, packets, and recorded meetings easily accessible on our website. Moving forward, we will continue enhancing these efforts to ensure residents can stay informed and actively engage with their municipal government.
9. What are important issues you’d like to address and how will you address them?
There are several key issues I would like to address to ensure Peotone continues to move forward:
- Stable Leadership and Long-Term Planning – To maintain momentum, we need stability in leadership and a clear action plan for the future. I will work to extend the contracts of our village administrator and police chief and collaborate with the Village Board to establish long-term priorities, including updating our comprehensive plan.
- Economic Growth and Revenue Generation – Our village needs additional revenue to fund essential services and infrastructure improvements without placing a greater financial burden on residents. I will continue to promote business development along Route 50, near the I-57 interchange, and in our downtown area to expand our tax base. We will also aggressively pursue grant funding, building on our recent success in securing $2.5 million for the downtown project and $900,000 for storm sewer improvements.
- Infrastructure Improvements – Roads, sidewalks, and storm drainage remain a top priority. We will continue investing in these areas while working on a pedestrian and bike plan to improve walkability and increase our eligibility for additional grant funding.
- Municipal Facilities and Public Safety – Our police and administrative departments need facility improvements to better serve the community. I will work with the board to develop a plan for necessary upgrades. Additionally, I will ensure we maintain fiscal responsibility, including properly funding the police pension to secure long-term stability.
- Transparency and Community Engagement – I will continue efforts to improve communication with residents through social media, e-newsletters, and an accessible website with meeting agendas and videos. We will explore new ways to encourage public engagement and keep residents informed.
- Preservation of Rathje Mill – The Mill is a significant piece of Peotone’s history, and we must secure its long-term future. I will work with stakeholders to develop a plan and identify funding to preserve this historic landmark for generations to come.
10. The mill is the feature point of the town and in disrepair. The mill was deeded to the Village but all the land surrounding it is privately owned. How would you address the mill’s needs given the lack of revenue and situation? And what long term future plans would you have for the mill?
As someone who has been involved with the Rathje Mill for many years, I fully support its preservation. However, I believe that a clear vision and long-term plan for the mill has been lacking. To address this, I would bring together all key stakeholders — including the Historical Society, adjacent landowners, residents, business owners, Village Board members, village staff, and the Southland Tourism Bureau — to develop a shared vision for its future.
Once we establish a well-defined plan, it will be much easier to justify expenses and secure funding through grants, donations from individuals and businesses, and potential partnerships. We have seen success in obtaining grants for other village projects, and I believe a strong case can be made to secure funding for the mill’s stabilization and enhancement.
Personally, I would like to see the mill not only stabilized for years to come but also developed into a more prominent tourism destination. With strategic investments in its infrastructure and incorporation into larger community events, the mill could serve as a unique attraction that brings visitors to Peotone, benefiting both our local economy and cultural heritage.