Four candidates are vying for three four-year trustee seats on the Deerfield Village Board on Election Day. They include two incumbents (Robert Benton and Mary Oppenheim) and two challengers (Christopher M. Goodsnyder and Rebekah Metts-Childers).

Current trustees Barbara Struthers and Dan Shapiro are not running for reelection. Shapiro is running unopposed for mayor with Harriet Rosenthal not seeking a fourth term.

Deerfield Patch is publishing all responses submitted by candidates verbatim.

Christopher M. Goodsnyder

Age (as of Election Day)

52

Town/City of Residence

Village board or city council

Party Affiliation (if a partisan race)

Not applicable

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Education

I have a Bachelor of Arts degree (History) from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Juris Doctorate from DePaul University College of Law in Chicago.

Occupation

I am an attorney licensed to practice law in Illinois, and have been so since November of 1993 (27 years).

Campaign website

TBD

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Making Deerfield a more attractive place for families and businesses to relocate.

Do you support Black Lives Matter and what are your thoughts on the demonstrations held since the death of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake?

I have no doubt that black people face disparate treatment in many aspects of society, and in particular in their dealings with police officers. I believe the Black Lives Matter movement has helped present the issues to a society as a whole. The organization’s efforts to bring a broader focus on disparate treatment and racial profiling should help change police training and standard practices to better ensure that all individuals receive fair treatment and avoid future preventable tragedies.

Do you think the current board has done enough to support racial equality, and if not, what specifically should be done to do so?

I believe that the board could always strive to make Deerfield attractive to a more diverse population. The opportunities afforded to children who grow up in Deerfield help prepare them for future success in all aspects of their lives. As a member of the Mitchell Park Advisory Committee, I advocated for creating a “sister village” relationship with a neighboring community that lacks similar economic advantages to those found in Deerfield. As a member of the Board of Trustees, I would be able to champion this concept to make a practical difference in the lives of young people.

What are your thoughts on the national and local coronavirus response? Do you favor measures such as limiting operation of non-essential businesses and restricting indoor/outdoor dining? And do you favor a local mask mandate?

I believe the CDC offers science-based guidance about how to reduce the transmission of the coronavirus. Hopefully, we are only months away from a return to a more normal life. I favor taking reasonable steps necessary to keep both employees and customers safe, while allowing businesses to continue to operate.

What are your thoughts on the state and local coronavirus vaccine distribution, and how do you think local governments should work together to handle vaccine rollout?

As the husband of a veteran elementary school teacher in a neighboring school district who has been teaching in person this school year, and the father of a future elementary school teacher who is also student teaching in person, I believe that having schools open for in-person education is absolutely critical for the emotional and academic well-being of students. Based on the fact that vaccinating each teacher actually impacts on average 15-20 families (i.e., their students’ families), I would have preferred putting teachers near the top of the vaccine priority list, right behind front-line healthcare workers. I believe local governments should do a better job of helping their residents coordinate getting vaccinated by hosting mass vaccination events in the local area and helping residents who are not technologically savvy better access the online vaccine resources.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am a very analytical person. My experience as an attorney has taught me how to listen and problem solve. I also believe I have the ability to bring a fresh and independent perspective to critical decisions that will come before the board. I believe that having two children who are recent graduates of Deerfield High School and having strong connections to both school districts and the Deerfield Park District, I am uniquely able to work collaboratively with our sister government boards to benefit the community as a whole.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

I am seeking to join the board as a challenger. I hope to bring my personal and professional skills to help bring balance to the board and intend on being more receptive to the goals and aspirations of the greater Deerfield community.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

I would like to make Deerfield a more business-friendly community. This will help bring good jobs at all levels and attract new residents to keep our community vibrant and our housing market strong.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Professionally, I have successfully argued cases in state and federal trial courts, and in the Illinois appellate and supreme courts. I believe being thoroughly prepared and accurately accessing the realities of the situation, I have successfully counseled my clients to find pragmatic and cost-effective solutions to their legal matters. I will bring this same level of preparation, unwavering ethics, and careful analysis to my role as a village trustee.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Let your word be your bond. Don’t give anyone a reason to question your sincerity.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

As a twenty year resident of Deerfield, through my extensive work on various volunteer boards, including the District 109 Caucus, the Deerfield Park Foundation, the Deerfield High School Booster Club, and the Mitchell Park Renaming Advisory Committee, I have built strong relationships with other civic-minded members of the Deerfield community who share my desire to make Deerfield an even more wonderful place to visit, work, raise a family, and retire. I hope that even when we disagreed with the process, my colleagues on these civic organizations would say that I remained professional and respectful throughout the discussion. I hope, if I am fortunate enough to be elected, to bring a fresh, independent, and valuable perspective to the Deerfield Village Board. Thank you for your consideration.