December 1, 2004
VIA HAND DELIVERY
Riverwoods Nominating Caucus Committee
c/o Riverwoods Village Hall
300 Portwine Road
Riverwoods, Illinois 60015
Re: Candidacy for Position of Village Trustee
Dear Caucus Committee Members:
I am pleased to submit my candidacy for the position of Riverwoods Trustee, and I thank you all for volunteering to serve on the caucus committee. Your commitment to civic duty matches my own commitment to serve our community as a representative on the Village Board.
By way of introduction to those who do not yet know me, I am a relatively new resident of Riverwoods, having moved here in early 2001, some three and one-half years ago. Like all of you, I was drawn to Riverwoods by its incredible beauty, rural-like lifestyle in a nearby urban setting, and the sense of community I felt from the get-go. My wife, Laura, and I know of no better environment in which to raise our four children, Sami (13); Isabel (9); Sander (3); and Jacob (2).
Almost immediately, I became involved in our community. Given our general large lot sizes for much of Riverwoods, meeting our neighbors is not as easy as in a typical planned subdivision. Unswayed that a large lot would deter my ability to be neighborly, I planned, hosted and financed a "Block Party," which has now become an annual event. Our "block" takes the most expansive of definitions, with invitations extended to all homes south of Deerfield Road and west of Sanders (other than Thorngate) - over 170 households. Our first year included an ad hoc soft-rock band, complete with drummer, bass player, electric and acoustic guitarists, and more off-tune singers than I care to remember. This past year included incredible delicacies donated by some of our resident professional chefs. Additionally, I put together and distributed a directory of our residents, complete with name, address, phone, occupation, and children¿s names and ages, for those who wanted to participate.
Around the same time, I became involved in the Riverwoods Business Association, ultimately becoming its co-chair. In that vein, I was asked to and did produce a Mission Statement, the preamble of which I think accurately conveys my thoughts about our community. I have enclosed a copy for your perusal. My involvement in these capacities led some to ask me to serve as a Board Member for our area's homeowners association, the Vernon Woods Owners' Association, a position to which I was elected earlier this year. As a Board Member, I immediately saw an opportunity to inform our residents of the beauty and benefit of a 14 acre lot owned by the Association, while at the same time paying tribute to one of our best and most devoted citizens, Howard Patterson, by requesting permission through a non-binding referendum to rename the lot, "Patterson Nature Preserve." A copy of the soon-to-be distributed brochure is also enclosed. I also suggested that the presidents of the various homeowner associations form a Presidents Council for periodic meetings, thereby providing a forum for discussing such common interests as snow removal and road repair, which could lead to economies of scale by collective retention of services. I understand that steps are being undertaken to form such a committee.
Professionally, I attended both Boston University School of Law and New York University School of Law, consistently rated one of the top five law schools in the country (along with Harvard, Yale, Stanford and Columbia, with the University of Chicago following close at hand). I practiced law in New York for more than 10 years, at two of the largest and most prestigious law firms in the world. I was also honored to serve as a law clerk to a United States District Judge in the Eastern District of New York, whom I now proudly call a client. My practice focuses on business transactions and business litigation. I view myself - and I think opposing counsel view me as well - as a fair and reasonable attorney, one who typically seeks equitable solutions to disputes, but one who can be tough as nails when necessary. I believe the traits of reasonableness, fairness and a sense of justice, on the one hand, combined with an unwillingness to compromise fundamental principles, on the other, will serve me (and ultimately the community) well in the position of Trustee.
My general philosophy concerning local Riverwoods governance is to preserve the best of our community - its character, natural beauty and unique rural setting so close to Chicago - while improving those things that are rendered obsolete or dilapidated. I am, for example, one who loves restored antiques and historical buildings renovated to their original beauty - preserving the best of the past with current, tasteful improvements. For that reason, I am in favor of some sort of woodland protection ordinance, although I am uncertain as to the proper ratio of improvements to woodlands as this point, but I do not want to prohibit reasonable growth or tear-downs of those older homes warranting it. The key to smart governance, in my opinion, is striking a reasonable balance of preservation with an eye towards the future. It is against this basic philosophy that I answer the questions posed in the Candidate Issues Questionnaire.
Section I: General
1. Riverwoods started as a retreat of sorts for the well-to-do of Winnetka. Throughout its history, it has been able to retain this rustic-type character, while providing, in simplest terms, a great place to live and raise a family. It is essential that this unique character of Riverwoods - which differentiates it from Deerfield, Buffalo Grove, Lincolnshire, Northbrook and the like - be maintained. Indeed, as the rest of the nearby villages grow with seeming reckless abandon, the character of Riverwoods will become that much more special if it maintains its original roots. As stated above, the proper role of Riverwoods local government is to maintain this character while providing a smart plan for the future; ensuring that the best of the old remain but not forsaking the improvements and technology of the new; and serving the social, safety, health and essential service needs of its residents.
Insofar as a plan for the future, I believe that the next step for Riverwoods is to plan for the improvement of some of its commercial property and property adjacent to it. A case-in-point is the development of the 37-plus acres on the corner of Milwaukee Avenue and Deerfield Road. I understand that the property is being considered for a "big box" development, such as a Menard's, which I think is wholly outside of the character of our community. Yet, Riverwoods would benefit from the tax revenue generated from such development, and it faces competition from Buffalo Grove to annex the land, which would leave Riverwoods with less say in the development and less revenues to gain from it. For the future, therefore, I think we should embark on an aggressive campaign to annex now all useful commercial property, so we do not wind-up with a similar situation where the purchaser can leverage our cooperation in the face of the loss of benefits by annexation to another village.
Instead, I would like to see developed in the area in question a tasteful, smaller shop development, with interesting architecture that fits in the needs and feel of our community. Included in the development should be condominiums - perhaps atop stores and offices - that would help the Village meet its obligation to provide a plan for low cost housing within the Village. A park, too, would be nice as part of the development. Thus, I see the proper development of this area as a blend between the functionality and profitability of a commercial enterprise with meeting some of the other Village objectives, such as low cost housing and recreation.
I also would like to see better access of our government to its residents. I am in favor of providing cable broadcast of town hall meetings, so those with children or other obligations who cannot attend meetings could still see their government at work. I am strongly in favor of the bike paths that have long been under consideration, partial funding for which could potentially be raised privately. As stated, I would like to see some form of woodlands protection, but I am concerned that we would unreasonably chill beneficial development.
2. As a business lawyer and litigator, I bring to the table a strong background in weighing the benefits and burdens involved in business and legal decision-making. I was fortunate to have been raised in a politically active family, as my father served as a village trustee in Morton Grove in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and later became village attorney (he now sits as a magistrate judge in federal court). Thus, an understanding of the proper role of municipal government is not only something I acquired through my studies and legal training, but it was part of my life experiences from childhood. Surely, I have the capacity and desire to sit on the committee overseeing the Village's legal affairs. I also serve as President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Workforce Solutions, a not-for-profit that has traditionally provided jobs to the hard-core unemployed working in solid waste sorting and recycling. As such, I also have some familiarity with this industry, although I feel quite confident that I can serve adequately in any capacity. Besides the legal committee, I have a personal interest in the committees overseeing building/zoning and bike/pedestrian extensions.
3. As demonstrated by my volunteer efforts in hosting the Block Party, creating the residents' directory, and serving on the homeowners' association, I have a need and desire to contribute positively to my community. I was the kid in law school, for example, who created a student directory of hundreds of students so that those who wanted to study or socialize together had a means by which to do so. No one paid me for these efforts; I simply saw a way in which I could contribute positively and undertook to do so. It is this same desire to "help" that motivates me to submit my candidacy, although I must confess some caucus members approached and encouraged me to run. I know of no conflicts of interest, although I suppose the potentiality exists if our homeowners association becomes entangled in a conflict with the Village at some point in the future - but that could be dealt with by abstention on the issue in question or resignation from the Association in the extreme circumstance. I will devote the necessary time and effort to represent our community fully and properly.
4. I see the Village in 10 to 20 years as one of the best and most unique communities in the entire Chicagoland area. As other villages grow and as "urban creep" reaches our doorstep, we will remain steadfast in holding onto our existing way of life and preserving our Village's natural beauty. I see reasonable and planned development, with appropriate turnover of our homes and property to a new generation, and commercial growth that blends profitability within our culture. I see myself as a then-23 year resident and still involved in our local politics.
5. Insofar as maintaining the unique character of the Village, I must say that I am supportive of Mayor Kaplan's agenda, as I think he is doing a fine job leading our community. As stated, we must refrain from caving to interests that would destroy the special character of our community but not turn away reasonable avenues for improvement.
Section II: Village Services
1. I am supportive of the traditional "user pay" philosophy. I have attended Village Board meetings, however, where the issue of access to "water" has been discussed, with a disproportionate financial burden placed on those residents who live further from the water main than others. In most instances, however, I am hopeful that the residents can get together on their own to work out the difficulties through cooperation, and I think the Village should be receptive to assisting in the mediation of disputes. Nonetheless, there is a role for government undertaking collective endeavors, as I am generally in favor of creation of a park and bike paths - things that simply could not be accomplished on a "user pay" basis alone. Thus, while I generally subscribe to a laissez-faire philosophy of local government, I am not absolutist in this view, for I believe that local government serves an important function by serving its citizens' needs.
2. Riverwoods needs to ensure that its residents have access to Lake Michigan water. I have not yet formed an opinion as to the best course of action for the Village to take to meet this goal, as I would want to hear from competing options after study and with cost considerations before finalizing an opinion.
3. I would vote in favor of bike path/pedestrian way extension. Given the distances between the houses in much of the Village, bikes are even more important to our children than in many with typical subdivisions, for they serve not only as a means of enjoyment but also of practical transportation. Of course, adults too, like myself, enjoy bike riding. The primary consideration I have for voting in favor of bike paths and pedestrian extensions is safety. Given that bikes will be ridden in our community, I would hate for the impetus for bike path extension to be a tragedy on Deerfield Road. We need to take proactive steps to ensure that our residents and others can ride a bike safely through and about our community, and permit those who wish to walk the area to do so with piece of mind that they are safe. Insofar as where the extension should take place, I am strongly in favor of extending the path on Deerfield Road, west of Portwine. I am, of course, receptive to other areas as well, as per citizenry input.
4. I am in favor of the garlic mustard and buckthorn removal programs. While reserving a final opinion, my gut reaction is that I am not in favor of a similar program for native flora and fauna. It is my understanding that if we take steps to remove the garlic mustard and buckthorn, and take further measures to reasonably ensure woodlands protection, we will create a natural and proper environment to permit native flora and fauna to grow. Part of the consideration for this "gut" response is that I do not know of a good way to fund a program for native flora and fauna.
5. In order to balance the needs of those who are sensitive to aerial spraying with the need for Gypsy Moth and mosquito control, one needs to know of the depth and extent of the each of the problems. Clearly, mosquitos are problematic in the warm months, and we know the damage that Gypsy Moths can do, so I see a significant need for aerial spraying. On the other hand, I am not familiar with the extent of those who are particularly sensitive to aerial spraying. How many residents does this spraying affect in a serious, health-risk related way? My sense is to make reasonable accommodations for those who are particularly sensitive, much in the same way as an employer must make a reasonable accommodation to a disabled employee under the Americans with Disability Act.
6. The abatement of drainage problems and concern over water flow are matters beyond the capacity of a single homeowner to correct. As such, I view it as a proper role for municipal government. I think the Village should coordinate with the homeowners associations to help alleviate drainage problems.
Section III: Land Use and Boundaries
1. I believe that the Village should seek the preservation and maintenance of open lands, as this is what we're all about. Again, I think it should be undertaken in a planned and reasoned way, with an outlook towards the future, but I think that keeping open, natural areas for the Village is a good idea.
2. As mentioned earlier, I am in favor of annexation of the areas along Milwaukee Avenue. Without researching the legal aspects of accomplishing this task and obtaining the opinion of the Village's counsel, I cannot speak as to the best method of acquiring the property. Nonetheless, from a philosophical point of view, I am in favor of doing so, as this would provide Riverwoods a say in what type of commercial development would occur without the threat that Buffalo Grove would annex the property and permit something objectionable to be developed there.
Section IV: Other Issues
1. Our corporate residents receive a number of benefits from the Village, from police protection to a supportive business environment. I believe that private contributions from our corporate residents should be tapped for important governmental functions, such as they were in helping to fund our police force. While one cannot tap this well too often, it should not be ignored for important governmental projects. Also, we should be ever on the look-out for state and federal grants to help underwrite various building and other municipal projects. When it comes to the bike path, I think private donors who would get a stretch of the path named after them would help raise funds.
2. The Village should maintain oversight with respect to tear-downs, but by no means adopt a policy so restrictive as to make tear-downs unprofitable for developers. By way of example only, the house directly across the street from mine, located at 2800 Orange Brace, used to be a small, unattractive ranch. New owners have built a gorgeous new home of some 10,000 square feet that is a drastic improvement over what was previously there. What used to be somewhat of an eyesore has turned into an attractive home, which also served to raise the value of the homes around it. We should not allow the Village to restrict tear-downs to the point where we blindly keep older, smaller and potentially dilapidated homes simply in the name of "preservation."
3. I have addressed the impact of the growth our surrounding villages elsewhere in this letter.
4. I favor using a piece of Village property for a park, playground and/or community center.
5. The "affordable housing" question is a difficult one, as we are in non-compliance with state law (although there is currently no penalty for such non-compliance). As stated above, I would like to see whether there is a realistic way to include affordable housing in any development of the 37 acre site on the Deerfield Road and Milwaukee Avenue corner.
6. To the extent that Village personnel and staff believe that we have too high numbers of non-compliance with Village ordinances, we should increase the penalties and ensure consistent enforcement.
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I want to thank all of you again for your time and consideration in wading through my application and those of the other candidates. There is little I have undertaken in life in which I have not met or exceeded the expectations for success. Should you give me your endorsement, I anticipate that you will feel confident and proud of your decision in relatively short order. I look forward to serving as your representative on the Board, and to answering your further questions in person.
Very truly yours,
Kenneth J. Ashman
Enclosures