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Six candidates are running for the Buffalo Grove village board, where three seats will be filled April 7. Jeffrey Braiman, a current trustee, is running for re-election along with residents Joanne Johnson, Andrew Stein, Lisa Stone, Beverly Sussman and Mike Terson. Here is an installment of the Q&A they filled out. Some answers have been edited for length.

Q. What are three key issues in this campaign?

Braiman: A strong economy. It is necessary to maintain and support our long-standing economic policies, encourage additional economic growth and maintain existing service levels while instituting appropriate and well reasoned cost savings.

2. Transportation. The village board has been aggressive in its attempts to ease gridlock on our streets, working successfully with outside agencies to establish commuter rail service, increase the number of commuter trains and divert freight trains. The most critical transportation issue is the extension of Route 53 north from Lake-Cook Road; it will reduce the traffic on Lake-Cook Road and other east-west roads in the village. Without the extension, Cook County may seek to add lanes on Lake-Cook Road, which would divide our village, unfairly impact businesses and residents and most likely create more traffic.

3. The aging of our village staff. We have been fortunate to have a highly professional, effective and efficient staff to manage the village over the past decades. Many are nearing retirement and we will be challenged to replace those highly qualified members in the near future, without a reduction in services.

Johnson: Maintaining a high level of municipal services in an economic downturn. The board and staff need to operate with a frugal mindset, maximizing efficiency and eliminating waste. We need to implement a radical cost reduction plan and get down to bare bones. Any nonessential operations or procedures need to be scaled back or eliminated.

2. Economic development is especially important in uncertain times. In Buffalo Grove, growth can be accomplished by developing new areas, such as the Milwaukee Corridor and the Prairie View District. We should offer incentives to new businesses, balanced against minimum quality standards. Whenever costs are cut, we need to balance short-term sacrifices against long-term benefit. We can also work to increase business volume by facilitating rehabilitation and remodeling at existing developments.

3. Transportation. Our number one priority should be encouraging the construction of Route 53 into Lake County. This would ease traffic concerns on many of our village streets. If Route 53 is not expanded, Cook County may consider expanding Lake-

Cook Road, which would have a negative impact on the area by bringing

more traffic and further dividing the village into two separate areas. The improvement and maintenance of our existing roadways must continue to be monitored. Several roadways have recently been expanded; Deerfield Parkway, Aptakisic Road and Route 22. Future enhancements to our infrastructure must be guaranteed. The village has also worked successfully with other government agencies to bring Metra train service to Buffalo Grove.

Stein: Reassess and re-prioritize commercial development.

2. Reassess and re-prioritize residential improvement projects.

3. Promote greater intergovernmental relationships with other communities and other governmental bodies.

Stone: Stop the influx and use of deadly drugs, namely heroin and methadone, which have taken the lives of many of our young residents. We are seeing an alarming increase in the use of heroin and methadone among our teenage and young adult population with catastrophic consequences. The death toll is climbing and addiction is on the rise.

2. To improve the economic environment and increase revenue by engaging knowledgeable residents and nonresidents to form think tank groups or commissions to develop creative strategies and ideas. The budget needs to be scrutinized so that our resources are allocated efficiently and effectively. We also need to foster friendly relationships with businesses to increase our desirability and attract quality retailers.

3. To build a sense of community and cohesion in Buffalo Grove. This can be better accomplished by improving our downtown area which will bring people together throughout the year. With a cohesive community, comes stronger connections between residents to help each other through good and bad times. Networks will then develop to assist in areas of employment, business needs, illness, friendship and other various aspects of our lives.

Sussman: Bring business opportunities back into Buffalo Grove. We have missed out on many opportunities that would have been very advantageous. Many residents tell me we need more in Buffalo Grove than banks, gas stations, and fast food restaurants. If you drive around you will notice empty stores throughout the village and empty buildings in the industrial area. These spaces and buildings must be filled if we expect to get revenue. We have to change our reputation to become more "business friendly." We should also be concerned about unemployed people who live in Buffalo Grove. Have job fairs, set up Web sites with job listings, do whatever we can to get our residents employed and businesses back into our community.

2. Traffic congestion. In the morning, you cannot get out of Buffalo Grove. In the evening, you have trouble getting back in. Four problem intersections are Deerfield Parkway and Milwaukee Avenue, Route 83 and Lake Cook Road, Aptakisic and Milwaukee Avenue, and Checker Road at Route 83. The traffic lights are poorly timed. Some are too long while others are too short. Having a police officer on duty would help move the traffic along during peak hours. Other solutions have to be explored to rectify this problem.

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