President Ann Maine

© LCFPD

At a special election on Monday, December 1, the Board of Commissioners elected their new leaders, choosing to retain Ann Maine of Lincolnshire (District 21) for a third consecutive term as President of the Lake County Forest Preserves. The Board also re-elected Linda Pedersen of Antioch (District 1) to serve as Vice President. Both will serve two-year terms that end December 2016.

"I'm very grateful for the trust and support of my fellow Commissioners. Being chosen to serve a third term as President of the Lake County Forest Preserves is both humbling and rewarding," said Maine.  

In the coming two years, Maine will advance the Board's forward progress toward a greater regional network of trails that will connect Lake County to neighboring Illinois counties and southeastern Wisconsin. Today, 182 miles of trails are located within the County’s 30,100 acres of forest preserves. Efforts will focus on finishing the final section of the 31-mile Des Plaines River Trail, and extending the 27-mile Millennium Trail and Greenway through western and northern Lake County.

"We've made great strides in planning, building and sustaining vital trail corridors for bike and pedestrian travel to and through our county, and there's more to come. Our collaborative efforts with partnering agencies have been fueled by the public’s passion for expanded healthy living and eco-friendly travel alternatives," added Maine. "It's important to me to encourage an active outdoor lifestyle for children and adults by promoting the many public health benefits of trails, open space, nature appreciation, recreation and cultural experiences." Maine will look for ways to expand partnership opportunities and enhance the role of the Preservation Foundation, the charitable partner of the Lake County Forest Preserves, to help fund new programs and projects through donations.

During her new term, Maine also will guide implementation of the District's new 100-year Vision to preserve and sustain Lake County’s natural landscape and extend community outreach and nature education efforts well into the future.

"I commend our Board's leadership in developing a 100-year Vision for Lake County. Our next step is to create performance measures and key objectives that will support the plan's goals. We serve as principal guardian of Lake County's open space and natural areas, but it's the spirit of leadership and support from Lake County residents – the true owners of this land – that empowers our mission. These beautiful natural lands and trails make the county more livable and the local economy more dynamic,"said Maine. "Over the next 100 years, we need to create a strategic mindset that can adapt to a changing environment, deliver a desirable quality of life far ahead to the future, and ensure responsible stewardship of public resources so we can do more for the families of Lake County."

The 100-year Vision became the foundation of a strategic plan, which will guide decision-making efforts for leaders and staff of the Lake County Forest Preserves as they fulfill their mission to preserve and restore land. They will use the Vision’s core principles of leadership, conservation and people to protect the forest preserves and ensure that they serve as a model for improving the landscape throughout Lake County.

Background

Since being elected in 2002, Maine has held the following leadership positions on the Forest Preserve Board:

• President since 2010
• Chair, Land Preservation and Acquisition Committee (2002-2010)
• Vice Chair, Legislative Committee (current)
• Member, Ethics Committee (current), Finance and Administrative Committee (2002-2006, 2008-2010), Executive Advisory Committee (2006-2010)
• Board of Directors and Voting Member, Preservation Foundation of the Lake County Forest Preserves (current)
• Liaison, Friends of Ryerson Woods Board (current)

Maine has been a member of the biology department at Lake Forest College since 1994 where she is a Senior Lecturer. She holds an undergraduate degree in biology from Williams College, MA, and received a master’s degree and a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Rochester, NY. Before joining the Forest Preserve Board she also served as a village trustee in Lincolnshire. She is an active member of the Lincolnshire Garden Club. She resides in Lincolnshire with her husband and four sons.

Pedersen was elected as a Forest Preserve Commissioner in 2008 and has held the following leadership positions:

• Vice President since 2010
• Member and Chair, Finance Committee
• Chair, Ethics Committee
• Chair, Rules Committee
• Member, Land Preservation and Acquisition
• Voting Member, Preservation Foundation of the Lake County Forest Preserves

As the newly elected leadership team, they will oversee more than 30,100 acres of natural lands, 182 miles of trails, 184 full-time, and 315 part-time and temporary employees, and a fiscal year 2014-2015 budget of $78.8 million.

The Lake County Forest Preserves was created by referendum in 1958 and serves as principal guardian of Lake County's open space and natural areas. Its boundaries are the same as those of Lake County.

The Forest Preserve District is managed by an elected Board, made up of 21 Commissioners who also serve as members of the Lake County Board.

Media Contacts: Ann Maine, President, 847-367-6640, AMaine@lakecountyil.gov; Alex Ty Kovach, Executive Director, 847-968-3338, akovach@LCFPD.org

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