2017 Election: Gail Schnitzer Eisenberg​, New Trier Township Trustee

Name: Gail Schnitzer Eisenberg

Age: 30

Town of residence: Wilmette

Position sought: New Trier Township Trustee

Family: My husband, David Eisenberg, grew up here in Wilmette. We are excited to raise our two children Julia (3.5 years old) and Hunter (1.5 years old) here.

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

Education: BA/MA in Political Science through the Civic Leadership Program, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, and Bronze Tablet, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, JD, magna cum laude and Order of the Coif, Northwestern University School of Law

Occupation: Attorney

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Position: I currently chair the Young Lawyers Group of the Trades, Industries, and Professional Division of the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago and the Legislative Committee of the Decalogue Society of Lawyers. I serve as the community outreach chair for the Jewish Alumni Network of the University of Illinois Alumni Association and captain a March of Dimes team. I previously served on the Board of Governors for the University of Illinois Hillel Foundation. I have volunteered legal services with the Domestic Violence Legal Clinic, ACLU of Illinois, the National Immigrant Justice Center, and Equip for Equality.

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

Ensuring that the administration of our Township government and its services is effective and efficient requires long-range thinking and smart planning. I’d revise the Township’s expired Strategic Plan to ensure that the Township is preparing for the anticipated needs of our residents over the foreseeable future.

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

The Economy Party candidates were slated after participating in a competitive vetting process by the non-partisan New Trier Citizens' League. The League acts as a watch-dog ensure the Township is focused on its primary mission, "providing leadership, advocacy, and resources to benefit the physical, mental, and social well-being of township residents." Every four years it acts as a caucus to slate the most knowledgeable, qualified candidates who have volunteered to serve the Township. Unlike the Coalition candidates, the Economy Party candidates are united only by our commitment to public service. We’re not associated with any outside agendas and our focus is on making the government effective for our residents, not cutting the government.

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

The current trustees have not failed the community. Those residents in need find the necessary programs thanks to cooperation between the Township's social worker and her counterparts at the police departments, agency partners, and schools. That said, there seems to be a lot of confusion by residents about the Township's functions, which my opponents are exploiting. The Township must do a better job at visibility. I'd update our website to modern, mobile-friendly standards, reorganizing the content by population served to make the website a more efficient resource to those looking for help, and updating the calendar to ensure committee meetings are easily accessible to the public. I would reassess the current paper newsletter, which does not seem to reach most residents and is costly, and increase strategic placement of limited printed versions at agency grantees, schools, community centers, and municipal buildings. I’d emphasize electronic communications by cross promoting our new and improved e-newsletter with other local governments, and increasing our social media presence. During this campaign I have begun “Township Talks,” where I set up office hours in the community; I’d like to continue if elected.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

The Economy Party candidates believe that local election races should stay local. Outside money and distant strategies should never drive the agenda in government.

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

Every resident who needs Township services knows about and can access those services easily. Those services are offered in the most effective and efficient way possible so they can be maintained for future generations no matter changing priorities at the state and federal level.

Please share with voters a story about wisdom gained from a mistake you made in your life or career.

You need to be passionate about the work you are doing or it will always seem like work.

Why should voters trust you?

I am a critical thinker who has studied local government law. I am passionate about public service and not beholden to any special interests. I will be a Trustee you can trust to put local needs first.

Share a quote that defines your philosophy:

"Love your neighbor as yourself."

What questions should be asked of current government employees accountable to your board?

How would you assess your performance in the last year? What were your strengths and weaknesses? How can the Board and your coworkers help you address those weaknesses and exploit those strengths?

Explain your attitudes toward fiscal policy, government spending and how taxpayer dollars should be handled by your office (or board)?

The Township—like all forms of government—should be a lean endeavor, but my opponents plan to dramatically cut will lead reducing services that could harm residents. Less than 1% of our property taxes go to the Township. (About $77.00 on a $500,000 home.) Thousands of residents every year receive services from the Township. We all indirectly benefit from some of these services. For example, teen offenders who go through the Township peer jury program are far less likely to commit repeat offenses than those who don’t. This benefits us all.

I and my co-candidates are committed to looking for looking for ways to make the Township more efficient. Last year administrative costs made up 30% of actual spending. This included a few one-time, big-ticket expenditures required to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Open Meetings Act, and Winnetka Village Code, so those costs will almost certainly decrease next year. The Economy Party candidates have the experience and expertise to provide a professional review of the Township operations and spending. I am particularly concerned with spending on unspecified legal services and consulting fees as well as for communications, printing, and publishing given the limited impact current communications efforts have had. I will also encourage the Township to obtain competitive bids before entering into contracts for large expenditures so the Board can choose the best vendors to meet the needs.

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

I have worked on a number of boards with individuals of diverse backgrounds and ages towards a common goal of organizational efficiency and programmatic excellence.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

"Be Prepared." - the Girl Scout's Motto

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

The Township provides important services that are not and cannot be offered by the individual municipalities the Township serves, including general and emergency financial assistance, a food pantry, child care subsidies, school supply and holiday assistance, community support grants for families with disabled members, property assessment appeal assistance and exemption advice, peer jury, and transit subsidies for seniors and disabled. The Township can rapidly help residents obtain emergency food and financial aid when they need it most. The Township is small enough to work with individual residents on their needs and big enough to minimize per-taxpayer costs. The Township also funds some 50 programs serving our most vulnerable populations with agency-partners. Without the Township, it is estimated that 5-7 agencies might cease to exist or have to drastically scale back their services.

Our opponents claim that they will make a "big dent on our tax bills" by "making a major reduction in the overhead of the Township" to under 15% while increasing transparency and maintaining services but offer no concrete means of doing that other than cutting staff. Our Township staff provide valuable direct services to our residents, so to cut staff is to cut services. This will not turn out well for the individuals who use these services. The Economy Party candidates will put local residents' needs first.

More via the New Trier Economy Party's campaign website.

Photo submitted by Gail Schnitzer Eisenberg