First Term Accomplishments

Standing with Taxpayers

  • Authored the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. Supported holding the line on property taxes and worked to help taxpayers better understand their bills. It's now an essential, easy-to-understand tool on the Lake County Treasurer's site: https://www.lakecountyil.gov//199/Property-Taxes

  • Successfully Advocated for More Aggressive Fiscal Management. I championed refinancing county and forest preserve bonds at lower rates, which will save taxpayers tens of millions in debt service expenses.

  • Supported Flat County Spending and Cut Tax Rates. Supported holding the line on spending while lowering tax rates (two out of three past years) and expanding county services at every level.

  • Balanced Budget Every Year.

  • Advocated for Responsible Property Tax Reform. I have worked with Springfield to reform property taxation and lower tax bills while providing more funding to schools and supporting local government. I have worked tirelessly to gain federal, state and private grants to offset the local tax burden and curb unnecessary government spending. There is much to do here.

Raised Money/Lobbied for Funding 6th District Projects

  • Supported and Delivered $30 Million in Funding For Multiple Projects in the Area. As Chair of the County's Legislative Committee, worked on delivering over $500 million in local road and storm water projects. They include $30 million for a Canadian National Railroad underpass at Rt. 120 and Rt. 83; $16 million for extension of Atkinson Road across Rt. 83; improvements to Rt. 120/83; sidewalks on Hainesville Road in Highland Lakes and storm water management projects in Haryan Farms and near Grayslake Central High School. These efforts will create more decent-paying local jobs and improve our quality of life.

  • Raised More Than $2 Million for the Forest Preserve. I worked to save taxpayer funds by successfully soliciting private donations for the Forest Preserve's "net zero" (no net energy use/low carbon footprint) environmental education center and youth farm.

  • Supported a Countywide Paratransit Program. My colleagues and I fought to create a seamless, countywide paratransit program so that the mobility challenged can get to stores and healthcare appointments. The new "Ride Lake County" will be up and running this spring.

Passed/Supported Major Environmental Legislation

  • Co-authored and Passed a Strong Climate Action Plan, Aligned with Paris Accords. As member of the Energy and Environment Committee, I co-wrote and championed a county Climate Action plan to cut county government's carbon footprint (installing solar panels, energy conservation, electrifying transportation fleet). I’ve supported banning the use of single-use plastics (in county facilities), a new program to finance energy improvements for businesses ("C-PACE") and a carbon credits program for the Forest Preserve that will generate income to plant trees. It's one of the most aggressive county climate plans in the country, soon to be led by a permanent county sustainability director, which he fought for and secured in the 2022 budget.

  • Advocated for a Greener Strategic Plan for the Forest Preserve. As vice president and commissioner of the state's second-largest (and most biodiverse) forest preserve district, I championed the construction of three net-zero buildings; regenerative farming and composting in Forest Preserve-leased farmland and increased the tree canopy in Lake County over time. I also supported a growing partnership with CLC to convert the Brae Loch Forest Golf Course clubhouse to a culinary arts training campus, saving taxpayers money on maintenance.

  • Championed "Green Infrastructure" for Every County Agency. This relatively new way of looking at building, development and restoration uses natural systems to absorb carbon, heat and stormwater. I’ve worked with the county planning and transportation departments; Stormwater Management Commission and Forest Preserve to employ wetlands, forests and prairies to address climate change and flooding.

Fought Hard on the Covid Front

  • Supported the Mass Vaccination and Voting Sites at The Lake County Fairgrounds. My colleagues and I worked to ensure that every one who wanted a vaccine got one, including more than 70,000 residents who received shots at the fairgrounds, the busiest "drive through" site in the county. The vaccines have saved countless lives. As a result, Lake County has one of the highest vaccination rates in the state. During election season, I supported the use of the fairgrounds as a convenient, safe mass voting site with drop-off boxes. I also volunteered as a poll watcher.

  • Distributed Covid Relief Dollars to Community Businesses and Agencies. My colleagues and I spent countless hours working with partner agencies and county staff to see that millions of federal COVID relief dollars (CARES, ARPA), aided homeless shelters, food pantries, small businesses, first responders, schools and park districts. I lobbied for a stand-alone COVID vaccine site in Round Lake and literature in Spanish. I worked with the Small Business Center at CLC to see that locally owned businesses got the help they needed to get through the pandemic. We're not quite back on our feet, but I will continue to work to get us going again.

Fought for Workers Rights, Jobs, Diversity and Inclusion

  • Fought for Comprehensive Diversity and Inclusion Policies. We supported and passed the County and Forest Preserves’ first comprehensive diversity and inclusion policies, protecting the rights of all genders and orientations. I also supported and attended Grayslake's first-ever Pride and Black Lives Matter parades. I also voted to fly the Pride flag at the County Building.

  • Supported and Passed the County’s First Ethics Commission. As member of the board's ethics committee, I supported the county's first independent citizens ethics commission, which reviews complaints against public officials.

  • Supported and Passed a Strong Responsible Bidding Ordinance. We advocated for a bidding ordinance that gave preference to contractors who offered trade apprenticeship programs. This is one way of training skilled tradespeople for living-wage jobs.

  • Collaborated Successfully with Local Organizations and Governments. I organized a new lobbying team for the county, and have worked closely with municipal, state and federal legislators. I visited Washington as the county's federal lobbyist and secured federal funding for a variety of projects. And when residents asked for a streetlight at Rt. 137 and Casey Road, I worked with the Village of Grayslake to get one installed, making that intersection safer for pedestrians and bikers. As a member of the county board's Public Works, Planning and Transportation Committee, I worked with the county and Village of Grayslake to make it easier to market the old Fairgrounds site at Rt. 120 and 45.

  • Advocated for a Lower-Cost Defined-Contribution Plan. This simple change allows county employees to save more for a dignified retirement.



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