Why I Am Running for Trustee

As we enter the final days of the Glenview municipal campaign, I take stock of what we’ve accomplished and look forward to the future.

We’ve breathed new life into a tired downtown area. A vacant Dominick’s building was transformed into a Heinen’s grocery store and connected by river walk to Glenview Rd. Fire Station 6 was relocated to Waukegan Rd., freeing up space for the new Midtown Square development and improving fire and ambulance response times. A drive-through was approved for the Glenview Grind space, creating a vibrant central gathering space that supports new businesses such as Forza Meats while fostering activity downtown for existing stores and restaurants. The former Village Hall property was sold, our core services consolidated into the new Municipal Center, and put back on the tax rolls for redevelopment. And the former Bess Hardware site, long a vacant and decrepit eyesore, is now under contract to be redeveloped as well. As with Heinen’s before it, the Village chose to control the Bess Hardware property in response to resident feedback and will, in the end, create a positive return-generating investment for Glenview; no taxpayer money will be lost.

We’ve been recognized for fiscal conservativism and discipline, as well as financial transparency, through our annually audited financial statements, our structurally-balanced budgets and our innovative managed competition programs, all of which can be found on the Village web site.

Every two years, a broad, diverse and constantly-changing group of nearly 50 people from all areas of Glenview come together to encourage people to serve. The request to serve is an open process, including press releases. Everyone in Glenview is encouraged to participate, and interviews are held with every person who comes forward. In this manner we can push forward our diversity and experience base while continually breathing new life into our civic leadership. I was new to the Chicago area when first asked to serve, and my running mates, Mary Cooper and Chuck Gitles, are brand new to the group as well.

We are honored to have received endorsements from the Glenview Journal (https://www.journal-topics.com/articles/journal-endorsement-jenny-gitles-cooper-for-glenview-village-board/), as well as from Jill Brickman, Northfield Township Supervisor https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/glenview/ct-gla-letter-consolidated-election-tl-0321-story.html) and Cook County Commissioner Scott Britton (https://www.journal-topics.com/articles/britton-backs-citizens-for-glenview/). We pledge to do right by these endorsements by continuing to provide thoughtful, independent stewardship of our community in a collaborative and data-driven manner.

I am proud of what we’ve accomplished and look forward to continuing my public service alongside a group that has the experience, judgement and diversity of thought to best serve Glenview through our many challenges and opportunities ahead.

We would be honored to have your support on April 2nd.

Mike Jenny

Village Trustee