Ron Cope for Lincolnwood Trustee
Dear Voter,
I served as Lincolnwood Village Attorney for 20 years. During that time I helped to create the Village's Para-medic service and the Villages Fire Department. Privatizing these services was a new concept which required the special expertise that I brought to the Village as its lawyer and now bring to the position of Trustee. These services have worked well for the Village. I successfully defended the Village in a variety of cases and was involved in labor negotiations with Village employees. I am the past president of A.G. Beth Israel synagogue and I served on the board of Lincolnwood Jewish Congregation. I am a member of the Board of the Civic Federation of Metropolitan Chicago and also served as President of the Solomon Schechter Schools.
My wife Rose Ann and I lived in neighboring Peterson Park for 30 years and have lived in Lincolnwood for the past eleven years. All three of our children attended the Ida Crown Jewish Academy. I strongly believe that local government is the government closest to the people. The Village provides police, ambulance and fire protection services. It provides for sewer and water service. The Village is responsible for parks and playgrounds. It repairs and maintains the Village streets. It passes and enforces zoning laws and building codes. In short, it is the government that has the most impact on our daily lives.
That is why I am running for reelection as Trustee. I BELIEVE STRONGLY IN FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY WHILE , AT THE SAME TIME MAINTAINING SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS. I REPRESENT THE RESIDENTS OF THIS VILLAGE WITH THE FULL REALIZATION THAT I AM REPRESENTING YOU.
Local Government Is the Government Closest to the People. It is Essential That We Have the Most Qualified Individuals Serving on the Village Board.
Local government is the government that is closest to the people. It provides ambulance service, fire protection, police protection and sewer and water service. It maintains the streets and sidewalks. It provides for zoning and land use and enforces building codes. It is the government that is most important to our daily lives. Running that government costs money and we, the taxpayers, provide that funding through our real estate taxes, sales tax and utility taxes.
Real Estate Values Have Gone Down and Yet Our Taxes Have Gone Up.
We Need to Work Together to Reverse This Dangerous Economic Trend.
We live in difficult economic times. Our real estate values have gone down and yet our taxes have gone up. Many people are underwater with their mortgages and many are out of work. Yet government keeps demanding more and more from the taxpayers. We are the same taxpayer who pays taxes to the Federal government, the State government and our local government. Yet, the Federal government imposes unfunded mandates on the States and the States impose unfunded mandates on local government and we are stuck with the bill.
We Need to Work with Our Business Community.
Their success Benefits All of Lincolnwood.
As local government officials we need to work with our elected State representatives to improve our State economy. We have empty stores in Lincolnwood because economic conditions for business are poor. We need to work with our business community to improve economic conditions. It is incredible as to how many regulatory hurdles businesses have to overcome in order to comply with Federal, State and local laws. Small businesses cannot afford the teams of lawyers and accountants and other consultants necessary to stay in business let alone start a new business. We need to make sure that local government serves to aid our business community. In addition to providing services that we the residents need these businesses also account for our sales tax revenues which serves to lower our real estate taxes. We have very good reasons for wanting these businesses to be successful.
I Am Running for Trustee to Protect the Substantial Investment
My Wife and I Have in Our Home and in Our Community.
Most of all, I am running for the position of Trustee for selfish reasons. I have a large stake in this community through the investment my wife and I have in our home. We love our home, our neighborhood and our friends who live here. We support the religious institutions here. I want to protect that investment and the investment of other property owners in this Village. I want Lincolnwood to remain a great place to live and to raise families. We want others to see Lincolnwood as a great place to live and work. What I will do as Trustee will always be anchored in furthering the quality of life for the people of this Village. If you are a home owner or a condominium owner or a business owner, you have a lot to lose if we do not work together to keep Lincolnwood strong.
I Am Well Qualified with the Necessary Knowledge and Experience
Having Served as Village Attorney Under
Mayors Proesel, Porcelli, Chulay, and Grant.
Not only do I live in the Village but I served as Village Attorney for twenty years. I worked on bringing the ambulance service and fire protection service to Lincolnwood. We used to receive this service from Chicago. Having a privatized ambulance and fire protection service was a new concept at the time and bringing it here was a major accomplishment. It has worked well. I worked closely with Mayor Porcelli and with Mayor Chulay. I began as a young attorney when Mayor Proesel was in office. I watched the Village grow and prosper and at one time saw that Lincolnwood real estate taxes were amongst the lowest of any municipality in the metropolitan area.
My Goals Are to Improve Property Values, Lower Taxes, and Maintain a
High Quality of Village Services.
My goals are to help improve the value of properties in this Village; to make sure that we maintain a high quality of services to our residents and businesses; that we work with other government officials to improve economic conditions; that our laws are not working against our residents and businesses; that our planning and zoning are sensible and reflect the needs of this community; that government has a friendly and cooperative face; and that this Village is a safe and desirable community in which to live and raise a family.