GL 032317

10 | March 23, 2017 | The glenview lantern Election 2017
glenviewlantern.com
NORTHFIELD TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE (4 FOR 4 FOUR-YEAR TERMS)
Name: James E. Hanlon Jr.
Age: 57
Residence:
Northbrook
Past local
government/relative
experience:
An Hanlon Jr.
assistant
Cook County state’s attorney,
serving as chief of
the Special Litigation Division
of the Office’s Civil
Action Bureau; No prior
elected government experience,
but ran twice for
Cook County Circuit Court
judge; Served in various
roles in the Northbrook
Caucus
Why did you decide to run?
I have always been active
in the communities in
which I live and work. That
involvement has taken
many forms, and now that
my two sons are grown, I
want to shift my focus to
the community at large.
I am quite familiar with
Township government, as
my wife previously served
as a Northfield Township
trustee. I know that the
services the Township provides
are valued and important,
as we serve areas
and segments of our population
that do not always
have a voice at other levels
of government.
What do you think is the
biggest issue facing your
coverage area?
The reliable, efficient
and cost effective delivery
of the services that
township governments are
statutorily charged with
providing is most important.
We have an excellent
Township staff, and vigilant
and diligent oversight
is key to maintaining their
effectiveness. As in my
legal career, I will focus
on identifying and implementing
process and technology
changes that can
help us be more efficient
and effective in the delivery
of our services. The
other factor we now face
is that there are efforts at
the state and county levels
to consolidate the services
provided by townships
with similar services provided
by other units of local
government. I think I
can be an effective partner
in implementing whatever
changes that consolidation
may bring.
What makes you a strong
candidate for this position?
I am an experienced
lawyer who works well
with others (an underrated
quality in public officials.)
Working well with others
does not mean going along
to get along. It involves
having the patience and
commitment to listen and
understand different perspectives,
and it requires us
to find solutions that serve
the common good.
What do you want people
to know about you?
I have been married for
30 years. Together, we
have two great boys, Kevin,
about to leave for the
U.S. Marines boot camp,
and Jack, a college freshman.
Name: Shiva
Mohsenzadeh
Age: 42
Residence:
Glenview
Occupation:
Since Mohsenzadeh
2013, legislative
aide to State Representative
Laura Fine, who
represents a large section
of Northfield Township;
prior to that legislative
aide to Illinois Senators
Jeff Schoenberg and Carol
Ronen
Past local government/
relative experience: Corporate
and Securities attorney
and a certified mediator
Why did you decide to run?
I am running to keep
our township government
transparent, efficient and
accountable to taxpayers.
Northfield Township
government’s mandate
is to provide general and
emergency assistance to
our residents. Hundreds of
Northfield Township residents
rely on the services
of the township and the
food pantry to make ends
meet. I feel it is important
to give back to our township
and care for our less
fortunate neighbors. As a
board member, I would
support our food pantry
so it can continue its great
work. I would also like to
find ways to improve and
streamline the township
delivery of services and
find synergies with other
units of government to help
improve those services
while reducing costs.
What do you think is the
biggest issue facing your
coverage area?
Our township governmental
units have at times
operated in silos and not
taken advantage of opportunities
to work with other
governmental entities to
deliver services more efficiently.
If elected, I will
review all township contracts
and obligations and
find ways to work cooperatively
with others so we
can improve services while
lowering costs.
What makes you a strong
candidate for this position?
I have worked, lived
and volunteered in the
township for the last seven
years. I have worked
with local officials, community
organizations and
businesses on various issues.
Because of my experiences,
I appreciate
the complexities of public
policy as well as the challenges
facing the average
taxpayer.
What do you want people
to know about you?
I live in Glenview with
my husband and two
sons. I am on the District
34 PTA Council, the
League of Women Voters
of Glenview-Glencoe, the
board of the Glenview
Education Foundation
and a graduate of Illinois
Women’s Institute for
Leadership. I believe that
I have a responsibility to
make my community a
better place through civic
engagement.
Name:
Melanie A.
Peterson
Age: 53
Residence:
Glenview
O c c u -
pation: Peterson
Homemaker
Past local government/
relative experience: Finishing
first four-year term
as a Township trustee;
Member of Family Service
Center Board and American
Theatre Company
Board; Previously sat on
the parent advisory board
for Glenbrook South High
School
Why did you decide to run?
I feel my previous four
years as a trustee will
bring continuity to the new
board. I am passionate
about the charities we support
and proud to work to
ensure this important level
of our government works
efficiently and effectively.
What do you think is the
biggest issue facing your
coverage area?
Keeping our tax levy
low while providing the
highest level of service to
the public and support to
those most in need. The
Township is known for the
important role our food
pantry fulfills for those
in need, plus we also offer
assistance in appealing
property taxes and passport
services. While most residents
of the township live
in the villages of Glenview,
Northbrook or Northfield,
many live in unincorporated
areas, and they need
services and representation
as well, which the Township
provides.
What makes you a strong
candidate for this position?
I understand the needs of
the township and the citizens
we serve.
What do you want people
to know about you?
My husband, Dan, and I
were both raised in Glenview,
chose to raise our
family here and have lived
here for most of our lives.
We have many friends in
Northbrook and Northfield
as well. Serving in such
an important local level of
government that has a direct
impact on neighbors and
those around us is something
very important to me.
Name: Itak
Seo
Age: 45
Residence:
Northbrook
Occupation:
Attorney,
Itak Seo
Seo Law
Office in Wheeling
Past local government/
relative experience: No
local government experience;
Worked for many
years with Korean American
communities and Asian
American communities
Why did you decide to run?
I decided to run for
Northfield Township trustee
with the help of many
wonderful professionals
who supported me fully in
this decision.
What do you think is the
biggest issue facing your
coverage area?
[A] major issue should
always be [the] well-being
of residents in the township.
I wanted to become
a productive part of our
community, and I wanted
learn how to better serve
our ever-growing township
to the best of our abilities.
I hope to bring a new perspective
[and] new voice
to our ever-growing and
diverse community. I look
forward to working with
our dynamic team at the
Township, and as a new
trustee, I’m looking forward
to learning and figuring
out the township role.
What makes you a strong
candidate for this position?
I feel that I will serve
my community well as a
Northfield Township trustee
because I am ready to serve
my community and I can
bring a new and global prospective.
What do you want people
to know about you?
I would like my community
friends to know
that I believe in the “Four
C” concept, which is:
compassion, competence,
character and confidence. I
would like to give a voice
and an opportunity to participate
to all the different
cultures that live within our
neighborhoods, so that we
can grow as a community.
I look forward to meeting
and learning more about
the people in our township
and I will work hard to
bring unity to all the residence
we serve.