Data centers are an undeniable and highly valuable component of our modern economy. They provide immense utility, support critical digital infrastructure, and generate commercial revenue that helps fund our community services and keep local residential property taxes competitive. Recognizing their economic value is the first step in proactive municipal stewardship. As a rule, I support their presence, provided they are managed with executive foresight, rigorous transparency, and a strict commitment to neighborhood harmony.

Elk Grove Village is home to the largest consolidated business park in North America, encompassing 67 million square feet of commercial space. Data centers belong squarely within this industrially-zoned footprint, subject to all appropriate regulations and considerations.

Data centers do not belong adjacent to any of our residential neighborhoods or community green spaces. Specifically, I oppose the proposed data center campus at the unincorporated WGN/Nexstar site on Rohlwing Road (and not only because I live in the adjacent neighborhood!). Protecting the peace and property values of the families bordering these areas must be a non-negotiable priority.

As these facilities evolve—particularly with the rise of high-capacity AI workloads—there are genuine, valid community concerns regarding their environmental impacts. These include questions about low-frequency noise/vibrations, air quality disruptions from diesel backup generators, and substantial water consumption and pollution, among others.

A responsible administration does not wait for an issue to escalate before asking the right questions. As trustee, I will encourage the village board to engage with independent environmental experts, review evolving peer-reviewed studies, and listen directly to residents to fully understand and address these concerns. We must prioritize active investigation over dismissal.

Elk Grove Village has long been known as "The Exceptional Community," built on a foundation of thriving local industry, safe neighborhoods, and dedicated public services. "Exceed Exceptional" is about building on that strong foundation.

As our village navigates new technological opportunities and regional growth, proactive leadership ensures our infrastructure, finances, and community services continue to evolve and serve every generation of residents.

Our community thrives because of the balance between a world-class dedicated business/industrial center and quiet, family-friendly neighborhoods. Maintaining this harmony requires:

• Proactive Planning: Engaging in early, constructive dialogue between developers, village staff, and neighbors.

• Smart Siting: Ensuring appropriate buffers, architectural integration, and modern sound mitigation standards for commercial projects adjacent to residential areas.

• Collaborative Solutions: Identifying mutually beneficial opportunities that respect neighborhood character while supporting economic vitality.

"Development Nutrition Labels" are a straightforward, transparent tool for evaluating major development proposals. Much like a nutrition label on a food package, these summaries would clearly outline key project forecasts before approval:

• Projected electrical and water consumption

• Anticipated traffic and noise profiles

• Community infrastructure and utility impacts

A “development nutrition label” provides village officials, staff, and residents with accessible, standardized, easy to consume data to make well-informed, collaborative decisions.

Elk Grove Village is home to millions of square feet of flat industrial and commercial rooftops. As trustee, I would seek to position the village as a partner with property owners and clean energy developers to incentivize the installation of rooftop solar arrays, the village can:

• Generate clean, distributed energy locally;

• Offset high-demand commercial energy loads;

• Bolster overall grid resilience without utilizing a single acre of residential green space

Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are an emerging technology. BESS are localized facilities that store excess power during periods of low demand and release it back into the grid during peak hours. Strategically integrating localized storage solutions helps:

• Stabilize voltage across the municipal power network

• Prevent localized power fluctuations

• Ensure that both commercial enterprises and household ratepayers enjoy uninterrupted, reliable power.

As trustee, I will partner with village, state, and federal officials, as well as community leaders, and residents, to investigate how this emerging technology (among others) could fit within Elk Grove Village’s needs.

Managing a major municipal budget like Elk Grove Village’s requires continuous diligence, detailed legal review, and transparent governance. As trustee I will insist on an approach emphasizing:

• Boardroom-Level Auditing: Thorough, line-by-line, on the record reviews of capital warrants and major expenditures.

• Competitive Bidding: Encouraging transparent, open-bid processes for public contracts to maximize taxpayer value.

• Active Dialogue: Fostering meaningful discussions on the dais regarding long-term fiscal health and return on investment.

The "Residential Dividend" is the principle that the economic success of our commercial sector should directly enhance daily life for village families. This includes:

• Maintaining stable, competitive local property tax rates

• Reinvesting in local parks, walking paths, and community programs

• Ensuring neighborhood infrastructure receives regular maintenance and modern upgrades

The initial funding for this campaign is entirely out of my own pocket. That said, I am open to donations from neighbors, friends, and others interested in supporting my campaign because they believe in what I believe in. To donate, please visit here.

All my campaign contributions and related items will be reported in accordance with Illinois law. My committee ID is 41307. You can search here.