Jeanne Kamps Lindwall, Candidate for Mayor, City of Evanston

Evanston is at a critical juncture in its history. I have thought a lot about the challenges that we face as a community. I have a unique set of skills that I believe can help to bridge the divides that have developed over the last few years. My goal is to establish a strong foundation for Evanston’s continued growth and development. Please visit my website www.lindwallformayor.org to learn more about my ideas for creating a cohesive vision for Evanston’s future and where I stand on a variety of community issues.

As Mayor, I will work to restore accountability in our budget process and the way that decisions are made. I will work with local leadership to market Evanston and secure the funding we need to implement community projects and initiatives. I will work to develop more collaborative relationships among the City Council, City staff and our appointed boards and commissions.

For me, sustainability involves more than making sure that new buildings are as “green” as they can be. We need to place as much emphasis on improving the energy efficiency of our existing buildings as we have on developing mandates for LEED certification for new development. Many residents struggle to afford Evanston; reducing the percent of their income that must go to pay for utility bills can help them continue to call Evanston home.

There are opportunities for economic growth and development throughout Evanston – not just in and around the downtown. But, we need to be sensitive to the impacts, both positive and negative, that such development can have. Unfortunately, all too often in recent years, neighborhood residents have had to band together to fight one out-of-scale development after another. This is a clear indication that our development approval process is not working as it should.

Public safety initiatives should be multifaceted to address the wide range of safety concerns that affect our neighborhoods, from Howard Street on the south to Isabella on the north. Residents should be encouraged to get to know each other and become organized through neighborhood watches and block clubs.

I know how to bring people together to achieve common goals and purpose. As Mayor of Evanston, I am committed to drawing on the strong, willing, professional talents of people who live in Evanston, know Evanston, and love Evanston – people who understand their city and its problems, are mindful of budgetary realities, and who want to contribute their considerable talents so that Evanston can maintain its unique quality of life.