‘Jobs, Jobs, Jobs’ Priority for New County Board Chair

The 23 members of the Lake County Board and the Forest Preserve District elected new leaders Monday morning.

David Stolman, a Republican attorney who has represented the Buffalo Grove area on the county board since 1992, was elected chairman of the county board. Anne Maine, a Lincolnshire Republican and biology lecturer at Lake Forest College, was chosen as president of the forest preserve district.

"The county deserves the best and I can't think of anyone who would do a better job," said outgoing chair Suzi Schmidt who is heading to Springfield in January as state senator for the 31st district.

Stolman said he will focus on economic opportunity, transportation issues, a sustainable environment and building healthy communities.

Stolman is on the board of governors for Lake County Partners, a non-profit which he helped create.  Lake County Partners works to build economic vitality in the county by attracting and retaining business.

In an interview last week, Stolman said he has compassion for the many residents who are hurting due to the poor economy .

"Jobs, jobs, jobs," is Stolman's refrain. "Maintaining and creating jobs is more important than ever," he said after being elected.

"Job creation is not limited to urban areas. There are high-income areas where people have lost homes. The economy has had an adverse  impact throughout the county," said Stolman. "I'm hopeful there will be an economic rebound and I, for one, hope to make Lake County five steps ahead of that."

Stevenson Mountsier, county board member representing Barrington, was named as vice chair. 

After the county board meeting adjourned, the forest preserve district convened electing Ann Maine of Lincolnshire to replace Bonnie Thomson Carter, who decided against seeking a fifth term.

Maine recalled moving to Lake County 20 years ago and immediately being drawn to the forest preserves with her husband and sons, although she did not imagine she would become its leader. She recalled a childhood spent outdoors, gardening with her mother and bird watching with her grandmother.

She spoke of the importance for residents to have easy access to forest preserves, especially as a stress reliever during trying times. "It is a gift for future generations," she said.

Antioch Republican Linda Pedersen defeated Waukegan Democrat Angelo Kyle for vice president of the forest preserve district by a narrow 13-10 vote.

The other nominations, Stolman, Mountsier and Maine, received a "no" vote from just one board member, Michelle Feldman of Deerfield.

Feldman explained, later, that her decision to oppose the nominees was the result of an executive session of the finance committee that was unresolved.

She said she didn't feel she had "all the knowledge" to make a decision supporting the nominees.