My wife Kathleen and I have lived in Grayslake for 22 years, and raised our two spirited daughters here. While life has not been easy, we let our experiences inform our public service so we can make life better for those that follow. We’re involved in many organizations from the county board, to the school board, and a host of service organizations.

I am also a member of the Grayslake Exchange Club, which honored me with an Appreciation Award in 2021. I've volunteered for many local events including the Craft Beer Festival to raise money for college scholarships and have been active in our church's family ministry.

Taxes are a perennial problem in our area and led me to become a tax rights advocate a decade before I was elected to the county board in 2018. I worked with neighbors to form The Citizens Action Project, which co-authored the Homestead Assessment Transparency Act, a bi-partisan state law I lobbied for as a citizen activist. The law offers six times more information on property taxes and instructed taxpayers how to appeal their assessments. Despite many political obstacles in Springfield, then-Governor Quinn signed it into law.

As a county board member, I successfully established a Taxpayer's Bill of Rights to inform taxpayers on how they can lower their assessments and give them direct links to other taxing bodies. They can find out with a few clicks how their tax dollars are spent.

I’ve worked to expand the Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve and extension of the Millennium Trail through Avon, Fremont, and Lake Villa Townships. I’m currently vice president of the Forest Preserve District, board member of the Preservation Foundation and chair of the Legislative Committee of the County Board.

As a proactive member of the county board and forest preserve districts, I’ve acquired funding for numerous projects in the Forest Preserve, Grayslake and Hainesville.

An award-winning author, journalist and speaker, I have spoken across North America. I’ve also authored 19 books, including "Lincolnomics: How President Lincoln Constructed the Great American Economy" (Diversion, 2021). As contributor to The New York Times and Forbes, I write regularly on retirement planning, investing and cyberfraud. My columns and articles for Reuters, Bloomberg and other global media outlets have been published on five continents. I am an Eagle Scout and Sierra Club and Wild Ones member.

I’m happy to speak with you, homeowners, community, church, or student groups. I can be reached at JohnWasik6@gmail.com.