Incumbent 7th Ward Alderman Eleanor Revelle, 78, is seeking her second full term on the Evanston City Council.
She was initially appointed alderman by Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl in 2016, following the resignation of Jane Grover. She ran unopposed in 2017.
Revelle and the other candidate for 7th Ward alderman, Mary Rosinski, were interviewed about their views on major issues by Evanston Now’s Jeff Hirsh.
Revelle, who owns a home at 2815 Lakeside Court, also offered the following information on her background and what she views as the key issues in the campaign in response to an Evanston Now questionnaire.
Background
I moved to Evanston in 1973 and have lived in the 7th ward since 2003. My husband Bill is a psychology professor at Northwestern, and our two sons are proud graduates of Orrington, Haven and ETHS.
A freelance writer and editor, I have held leadership positions in several local organizations where I have gained a good foundation for evaluating policy proposals and making tough decisions as a member of the City Council.
- League of Women Voters. President, LWV Evanston and LWV Illinois, and board member of LWV United States for eight years. I currently co-chair the LWV U.S. Climate Team, a network of League members across the country who are taking action to fight climate change.
- Leadership Evanston, founding member and steering committee Chair. This annual 10-month program helps broaden participants’ understanding of community issues, build their leadership skills, and connect them with a network of other citizens working to strengthen our community.
- Evanston Community Foundation. Board Chair. ECF builds permanently endowed funds to respond to community needs, supports local nonprofits with grants and capacity-building programs, and brings people together to address community challenges.
- Public Service Challenge, Co-founder. Begun in 2000, this nonpartisan training program is offered each election cycle to prepare residents to become candidates or campaign workers in local elections.
- Citizens’ Greener Evanston, founding board member and President. I was one of the community members who worked with City staff to draft Evanston’s first Climate Action Plan (2008) and then launched CGE to help implement that plan.
Key issues
During my five years on the Council, I have focused on three critical issues, which will continue to be my priorities:
Addressing the Climate Crisis. Evanston’s Climate Action and Resilience Plan sets appropriately ambitious goals: to be a carbon neutral and zero waste community by 2050. In the near term, we should focus on CARP’s interim goals. To reduce building energy use by 25% by 2025: update our building and energy codes; provide incentives to reduce emissions from existing buildings. To increase our waste diversion rate to 50% by 2025: provide universal access to composting services; incentivize recycling, especially for commercial properties.
Expanding Affordable Housing. As a member of the Affordable Housing Plan Steering Committee, I am committed to our completing a comprehensive, equity-driven plan that will result in a significant increase in our supply of affordable housing. We must also undertake a thorough review and revision of our zoning and building codes, applying an affordability lens. By permitting a variety of housing sizes and types and smaller lot sizes in all neighborhoods, we can increase housing options and create more affordability.
Reimagining Public Safety. We must make a greater investment of City resources in social services, especially mental health and youth and young adult services. Implementation of an Alternative Emergency Response program, which sends behavioral health professionals (rather than police) to the scene, will provide the support that the individual in crisis needs and also yield savings in the police budget that can be redirected to support community well-being.
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