My name is Chris Nelson, and I am a candidate for the position of Village President in West Dundee. 

Like any resident of West Dundee, I am proud of my community. It is a great place to live, with good schools, excellent recreational facilities, and reliable municipal services.

And yet, the community is at a crossroads. The economic engine of the community, Spring Hill Mall, is losing its retail base to the Randall Road corridor, particularly in Algonquin and Lake in the Hills. As this happens, attendant uses in and near the mall suffer, as evidenced by the recent (and financially painful) losses of retailers Best Buy and JC Penney's. The cascade effect erodes our tax base, threatening the very things that attracted many of us to West Dundee.

The time to act is now. West Dundee is in a period of transition, and whether that transition is positive or negative is dependent on the leadership the community receives in the next several years. And it is for that reason that I am running for the office of Village President. 

I believe that my economic development experience, academic background in public administration, civic involvement in the Dundee area, and demonstrated ability to work within a variety of organizations as indicative of my leadership capabilities. As an expression of this, I have outlined a 5-point plan that will serve to guide my efforts if elected to the office of Village President:

I hope that I can count on your support, both during the election cycle and afterward. I appreciate your taking the time to visit my Web site, and encourage you to contact me should you have any questions, comments, or concerns.