North Cook News

With his run for Village of Wilmette Board of Trustees having come up short, Brian Locke has hinted to supporters that their work may not be over.

“I want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported me,” Locke posted on Facebook. “For those of you who have yard signs I will be making an effort to collect as many as possible. We may have to use them again.”

Locke based his campaign on a platform of attracting more businesses to the Village, maintaining a high quality of life for all residents and doing everything he can to keep property taxes from rising.

“I am running because I am concerned regarding the financial future of the Village,” Locke told the North Cook News just days before the election. “Though Wilmette is currently in good condition financially, we have experienced revenue declines in every category. This decline must be addressed proactively through a smart combination of reduced expenses and increased revenue, without adding to the already high taxpayer burden.”

A mechanical engineer by trade who has resided in the Village for the last five years, Locke added he’s not a fan of the look parts of the village have started to take on.  

“Looking around the Village, I see many empty storefronts which reflect a systemic problem of attracting businesses to the community - this must be a primary focus,” he said. “I am further concerned by activists in the community that have political, rather than practical agendas, and I am running in part in an attempt to reduce their influence.”