Gerry smith
wilmette village board
candidate video
responses to voter guide questions
1. Why are you running for Village Board, and what are your qualifications?
My decision to run for Village Trustee has developed over the past few years. I had the opportunity to expand my interactions with the Trustee President Plunkett and several of the current trustees for the past year due to my chairpersonship on the Human Relations Commission. Through my active participation with village listening sessions, the Sesquicentennial Celebration, and attendance at Village Board meetings, these engagements gave me the opportunity to see our village trustees in action and learn more about their trustee roles. I feel I have the leadership qualities, and fair decision-making characteristics to serve our Village of Wilmette community.
Regarding qualifications, I have over 13 years of service as a village commissioner on commissions, my 33-year business background in the private sector high-tech industry as a manager and an executive, and my decade plus public sector experience with the State as a senior leader has prepared me for the municipal leadership role of a trustee. In addition, I have been 30+ year resident of our Village of Wilmette. Living on the west and east sides of Wilmette, I have seen, experienced, and lived through challenges and good times of our village. I will bring balance to the trustee governance with my rich background, experiences and fair-minded approach.
2. What are your priorities for Wilmette and how will you work with the Board and Village Staff to address them?
My initial priorities will be to promote the continued community development and infrastructure improvements in the village. I will work closing with our village staff, trustees, and zoning commission to understand approaches to maintain housing and commercial developments throughout our village. Listening and learning plus effective communications with village staff, trustees and commissioners will enable me to become a valuable contributor as a trustee.
3. What, if any, are your environmental priorities for the Village?
Environmental balance is a critical success factor as we, the village, move towards the future. There needs to be a careful balance of green space and building developments. To maintain our beautiful Village, environment needs to be considered. My approach as a trustee will be to include environmental considerations as projects come up and policies are being discussed.
4. Do you think Wilmette has successfully balanced development in the Village? Do you have any vision for future development in Wilmette?
I feel the village has been successful balancing development and environment. Looking at the improvements of the front of the village hall and the downtown landscape are examples of the balance when improvements are accomplished. The continuation of balancing development and environment will be my approach as a trustee. So, thinking about my vision for the future of the village, I would like to have the input from the Village of Wilmette Comprehensive Plan, and I would use these suggestions, inputs, and ideas to assist me in shaping my vision for the future developments in the village.
5. Is the Village doing enough to maintain and/or improve infrastructure in Wilmette?
I do feel the village has been on a solid plan and path for infrastructure improvements for the past few years. The street and road improvements have been steady. The flood control work in west Wilmette has been proceeding at a steady pace. The village has and is doing a very good job.
6. How to you feel Wilmette can best balance tax revenue and spending?
At the Village of Wilmette Budget Approval Board Meeting in late 2022, which was opened to the public, and I attended, the strong financial results for the past years, and good planning for the future, resulted in a flat property tax levy or better say, “no property taxing increase” for 2023!!! These results are the proof of strong guidance and leadership by our village management team and trustees.
7. Do you feel the various Village boards and commissions adequately serve Wilmette’s needs? Do you have additional ideas for how they can do so?
I feel the variety of village boards and commissions have been and are serving the Village better than adequately. I have served on boards and commissions for over 10 years, and I have had the fortune to work with some very talented residents who have served on these commissions and boards. Wilmette has been so very lucky to have their talented residents give their valuable skills and time to improve and resolve the village’s bike safety, environmental concerns, social events and social challenges to name just a few of the commissions.
My decision to run for Village Trustee has developed over the past few years. I had the opportunity to expand my interactions with the Trustee President Plunkett and several of the current trustees for the past year due to my chairpersonship on the Human Relations Commission. Through my active participation with village listening sessions, the Sesquicentennial Celebration, and attendance at Village Board meetings, these engagements gave me the opportunity to see our village trustees in action and learn more about their trustee roles. I feel I have the leadership qualities, and fair decision-making characteristics to serve our Village of Wilmette community.
Regarding qualifications, I have over 13 years of service as a village commissioner on commissions, my 33-year business background in the private sector high-tech industry as a manager and an executive, and my decade plus public sector experience with the State as a senior leader has prepared me for the municipal leadership role of a trustee. In addition, I have been 30+ year resident of our Village of Wilmette. Living on the west and east sides of Wilmette, I have seen, experienced, and lived through challenges and good times of our village. I will bring balance to the trustee governance with my rich background, experiences and fair-minded approach.
2. What are your priorities for Wilmette and how will you work with the Board and Village Staff to address them?
My initial priorities will be to promote the continued community development and infrastructure improvements in the village. I will work closing with our village staff, trustees, and zoning commission to understand approaches to maintain housing and commercial developments throughout our village. Listening and learning plus effective communications with village staff, trustees and commissioners will enable me to become a valuable contributor as a trustee.
3. What, if any, are your environmental priorities for the Village?
Environmental balance is a critical success factor as we, the village, move towards the future. There needs to be a careful balance of green space and building developments. To maintain our beautiful Village, environment needs to be considered. My approach as a trustee will be to include environmental considerations as projects come up and policies are being discussed.
4. Do you think Wilmette has successfully balanced development in the Village? Do you have any vision for future development in Wilmette?
I feel the village has been successful balancing development and environment. Looking at the improvements of the front of the village hall and the downtown landscape are examples of the balance when improvements are accomplished. The continuation of balancing development and environment will be my approach as a trustee. So, thinking about my vision for the future of the village, I would like to have the input from the Village of Wilmette Comprehensive Plan, and I would use these suggestions, inputs, and ideas to assist me in shaping my vision for the future developments in the village.
5. Is the Village doing enough to maintain and/or improve infrastructure in Wilmette?
I do feel the village has been on a solid plan and path for infrastructure improvements for the past few years. The street and road improvements have been steady. The flood control work in west Wilmette has been proceeding at a steady pace. The village has and is doing a very good job.
6. How to you feel Wilmette can best balance tax revenue and spending?
At the Village of Wilmette Budget Approval Board Meeting in late 2022, which was opened to the public, and I attended, the strong financial results for the past years, and good planning for the future, resulted in a flat property tax levy or better say, “no property taxing increase” for 2023!!! These results are the proof of strong guidance and leadership by our village management team and trustees.
7. Do you feel the various Village boards and commissions adequately serve Wilmette’s needs? Do you have additional ideas for how they can do so?
I feel the variety of village boards and commissions have been and are serving the Village better than adequately. I have served on boards and commissions for over 10 years, and I have had the fortune to work with some very talented residents who have served on these commissions and boards. Wilmette has been so very lucky to have their talented residents give their valuable skills and time to improve and resolve the village’s bike safety, environmental concerns, social events and social challenges to name just a few of the commissions.