Views

View my video introduction and written submission to the League of Women Voters' Voters Guide,
with in-depth supplemental answers on video found my Joel for Wilmette Facebook Page 

View my answers to the Wilmette-Kenilworth Patch candidate questionnaire.
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Listen to my interview on the New Trier High School Radio podcast, The Political Performance.

  
An experienced and effective Village Trustee, advocate, and community leader, Joel has made our village government more responsive to its residents.  Tackling tough issues, taking difficult votes, fielding community concerns, and engaging residents are hallmarks of Joel’s public service.  As Village President, he will work tirelessly for all residents and for all neighborhoods in the Village of Wilmette.  

Sound Infrastructure

​It used to be that when residents shared what they loved about Wilmette, they pointed to location, schools, and parks - none of which are actually under the purview of the Village of Wilmette.  When they pointed to concerns and/or areas for improvement, such as roads or municipal services, they were pointing to the Village.  With our recent and future investments in our infrastructure, including the Neighborhood Storage Project, Downtown Streetscape, and Active Transportation Plan, we are turning the corner.  Wilmette will just be an amazing place to live, period.  We must continue this upgrading of our Village, not just for us, but for the next generation of homebuyers...the future residents of Wilmette.

Our Community's Well-Being

Joel believes the Village should follow all public health guidance from county, state, and national authorities to protect Wilmette residents in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.  He supports the Village's Community Caretakers program and collaborates with other governmental bodies to promote social services and other resources to assist residents as they face increasing hardship.   Joel also recognizes the impact of the pandemic on our local businesses.  That is why Joel uses various social media platforms to urge residents to safely support local business during times of greater mitigation.  Joel also strongly supports the Village’s sales tax rebate program for its restaurants.  As Village President, Joel will prioritize public health and the well-being of our residents, and work hard to support our business community.​
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Leadership for All of Wilmette

When tackling tough issues and taking difficult votes, Joel’s moral compass is clear.  After being the only Village Trustee to support opting into the Cook County ordinances on minimum wage and earned sick leave, Joel shared the following sentiments after winning the issue 18 months later.  “One of the many reasons we are blessed to live in the Village of Wilmette is that it is within our reach to care about each and every one of our residents.  My message is simple.  You have a friend at Village Hall.  I have thought about you.  I have cared about you.  And I have fought for you.  I believe all working people, regardless of their income level, should feel welcome in the Village of Wilmette and their contributions to our community should be appreciated.”  

Outreach and Engagement 

Outreach and engagement have been hallmarks of Joel’s public service.  His community surveys, email newsletters, and social media presence have been precedent-setting.  They also make him our most accessible and accountable leader.  As Village President, Joel will continue to prioritize outreach and engagement with residents from all neighborhoods.  Because, in addition to our schools and parks, it is our residents and neighborhoods that make the Village of Wilmette a special place to live.  We must also make the most of our community’s skills, knowledge, and talent.  We must thoughtfully implement the recent changes to the Talent Bank and our Boards and Commissions, never letting them fall into such disrepair again.

Responsible budgeting

Due to the pandemic and our emerging structural deficit, our next Village Board must budget responsibly in the face of headwinds.  We need elected leadership in touch with our community’s priorities.  We must appropriately apply short-term and long-term budget solutions to short and long-term budget challenges.  For example, our shorter-term budget challenges should not impede generational endeavors such as the Neighborhood Storage Project or the Downtown Streetscape with Central Avenue reconstruction.  Instead, reductions should focus on services that can be scaled back without losing the capacity for quick engagement when reinstated.  Meanwhile, we must fortify our sales tax revenue by supporting our local business community, and deploying creative economic development strategies.

A Time to Reflect and Energize

Wilmette will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2022.  We should pause to reflect upon our Village’s past.  After all, we all appreciate how the Village is a wonderful place to live, work, play, pray, and raise a family.  This 150 year milestone should also be a time that sparks energy, creativity, and vision for the future.  As we embark on a new Comprehensive Plan, we set a course for decades to come.  Beyond urban planning, we should also use this unique time to ask ourselves meaningful questions.  What kind of community do we want to be?  With our many blessings, can we transcend divisions that burden broader society?  Joel believes we can. ​​

Sustainability 
​We all have a role to play to improve the sustainability of our community.  Sustainability starts at home with the Kurzman family.  Learn about Joel’s sustainable gardening practices in this video.  Joel has been our leading voice for sustainable practices at Village Hall as well.  As a result of Joel’s leadership, all Village vehicles scheduled for replacement are cost-benefit evaluated with low or zero-emission options.  An early success is how Wilmette will soon be among the first municipalities in the nation to deploy hybrid police vehicles in its fleet.  Joel is excited to engage the work of our Environmental and Energy Commission, but in the meantime, Joel will not stop looking for ways to improve our sustainable practices here and now.