Holly Kim Begins Mayoral Campaign

Holly+Kim+discusses+her+mayoral+platform+at+AREA+General+Store+in+Mundelein.

Michael del Rosario

Holly Kim discusses her mayoral platform at AREA General Store in Mundelein.

Melissa Burgett, Print Editor-in-Chief

Watch Holly Kim and Steve Lentz discuss key village issues in this 5-part video series.

Two senior members of the editorial staff were able to sit down with Kim to discuss her campaign at a local coffee shop, Area General Store.

“Despite what people usually think, this is a job interview,” said Kim of the upcoming election.

A native of Northbrook, Kim was elected as a Mundelein trustee after sitting in on village board meetings for several years on her own time.

The practice of community service has been a tradition in Kim’s family, as her father, a small business owner, had inspired her to volunteer and be an active community member early in life. This mindset of focusing on community betterment has manifested itself in Kim’s campaign.

Kim’s campaign is centered around her acronym PLENTI:

 

Property Rights Kim said, “People deserve to have the freedom to do whatever on their own property, as long as it doesn’t affect the quality of life of their neighbors.”
Local business Kim seeks to spotlight Mundelein businesses and supports an expansion of the Business Incentive Grant (BIG) program.
Environment Kim sits on the board of directors for Village Homesteading Mundelein and supports environmental initiatives that blend social responsibility with financial practicality.
New business Kim will strive to bring in new businesses. Mundelein is currently experiencing difficulty keeping local businesses within the downtown area, some of which can be attributed to heavy construction.
Transparency Mundelein citizens are well aware of Kim’s utilization of social media to gauge interest in issues and hear from residents. Kim aims to continue this method of communication.
Innovation Mundelein is a fast-growing community and will need to focus on helping the village grow at the rate it is while maintaining business and culture.

 

“I think Holly Kim would be a strong candidate because of how local she is. She has taken it upon herself to get involved in so many small and large events that include so much of the Mundelein community,” said Senior Jasmine Cuasay. “I think the mobilization of her campaign started way before her means to run for mayor (charities, walks, etc), which is another large factor of why I think she has such a strong support group. Also, her youth and background make her more relatable to the demographics of Mundelein.”

Despite her past wariness of the word, Kim has accepted the role of politician.

“Ten years ago I never thought I would get involved with ‘the p word’ [politics].,” Kim said.

Her mayoral campaign will be heavily focused on economic development in Mundelein, which Kim believes is the major issue to be debated during the upcoming election.

“We don’t have a lot of options here, but we are slowly growing,” Kim said, citing newer, successful businesses, such as the Italian bakery Tony Cannoli or restaurant Tina G’s, owned by Phil and Tina Gilardi, who also operate Philly G’s in Vernon Hills and Tavern on 60.

For some, Kim’s unique experiences and modern approach to governing a village is a sharp contrast to current Mayor Steve Lentz, who will be running for reelection.

In 2013, Park Board Commissioner and former Police Chief Wally Frasier and then-Village Trustee Robin Meier both ran unsuccessfully for mayor, losing to Lentz.

“I’m not a politician; I’m a public servant,” said Kim, her background in service becoming a prominent aspect of Kim’s appeal to the public.