North Cook News

Roger Shubert successfully rode the wave of his accomplishments to a second term as Park Ridge alderman on Tuesday.

Shubert bagged 57.4 percent of the vote to easily defeat Jack Barnette, earning himself four more years in office.

“I think this election was a referendum on some of the things I’ve been able to accomplish and some of the things we’ve been able to do as a body,” Shubert told the North Cook News. “My campaign theme was moving Park Ridge forward, and I think the residents wanted to see some of the momentum we’ve built continue to build.”

Shubert pointed to his work in overhauling the community’s liquor ordinance and on addressing the area’s flooding problem as some of his biggest accomplishments.

“With the ordinance, we created an environment where more restaurants are now open and more people are now staying in Park Ridge to eat, drink and enjoy the benefits of community,” he said.  

The next big project Shubert hopes to get off the ground is helping to oversee the area’s flood mitigation efforts.

“We’ve has this issue over the years, and as the head of the public works committee, I’m hoping to devise a plan that helps us get our priorities in place,” he said.

From there, Shubert wants to turn at least some of his attention to a new parking study in order to alleviate the strain caused by all of the new traffic and patrons the area’s added attractions have brought.

“The added business is a good thing, but we have to make some tough decisions about improving that issue,” he said.

As it is, Shubert sees his more than 20 years of marketing and product development experience as key factors in the community continuing to grow its economy.

“We’ve tried to govern based on the principles of HITA: honesty, integrity, transparency and accountability,” he said. “Over the years, that’s put the city’s financial district on a much better course. It’s helped establish fiscal priority.”