Lake County Gazette

Tom Munger, a Lincolnshire native, said that his decision to run for a spot on village's board of trustees is fueled by a desire to maintain the community’s legacy while ensuring its growth remains sustainable. 

“That’s my main inspiration for getting involved,” Munger told the Lake County Gazette.

With deep roots in the community, a background in engineering and business, and a strategic mindset, Munger believes he can bring fresh perspectives to local governance.

“My wife and I recently decided to make Lincolnshire our home, and we welcomed our first child in January,” he said. “His name is James, and he's a good little guy. We want Lincolnshire to continue to be the great place it’s always been and push it forward into the future, while preserving what makes it special.”

Munger’s commitment to Lincolnshire has only deepened since he and his wife recently decided to move back to the area to raise their family after stints in Houston and Deer Park. 

“It’s a great place to grow up and raise a family,” he said. 

Drawing from his own experiences growing up in Lincolnshire, Munger believes his background in teamwork and collaboration will serve him well in a leadership role on the board.

“I grew up in Lincolnshire, went to Stevens High School, and played football and basketball,” Munger said. “These experiences taught me teamwork and collaboration, skills I use daily in my professional life. I believe these skills would be valuable on the town board, helping to generate ideas, provide feedback, and make smart decisions for the town’s future.”

Munger sees his status as a young, new parent in Lincolnshire as an asset to the community.  

“Additionally, as a younger candidate and new parent in the community, I believe I can represent the interests of my generation now settling in Lincolnshire,” Munger said.

With a background in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, Munger brings a wealth of knowledge from various sectors. He has experience in industries ranging from consulting to automotive and packaging. 

Currently, Munger works for Amcor, a large packaging manufacturer, where he manages product strategies for medical packaging.

“My role involves category strategy decisions, from product development to serving customers and managing production,” he said. “I approach everything with a strategic mindset, and that’s the kind of thought I’d bring to the trustee role.”

Munger emphasized that Lincolnshire has a well-managed government, regularly passing balanced budgets and keeping taxes low. He pointed out that the village has a healthy reserve fund, with about 75% of its operating budget set aside for emergencies. His focus is on maintaining this fiscal responsibility while ensuring that the village continues to thrive.

“Lincolnshire is a well-managed government, regularly passing balanced budgets,” Munger said. “We have around 75% of our operating budget in reserve for rainy days, ensuring that the town is well-covered. We’re able to provide essential services to our residents with relatively low taxes.” “My goal is to maintain that commitment by ensuring we continue to develop revenue streams, including amusement, food, beverage, and hotel taxes, through strategic economic development. That way, we can offset rising costs without passing them onto residents. It’s crucial to develop areas of the village thoughtfully and strategically to keep the town functioning.”

Infrastructure is another key area of focus for Munger. 

He highlighted the need for upgrades to the village’s aging water and sewer systems, originally designed for smaller appliances in the 1950s. With a long-term strategy already in place, Munger fully supports continuing this approach to ensure the projects stay on budget.

“Flooding around the Des Plaines River is another issue we should address, as it negatively impacts residents in affected areas,” Munger said.

When it comes to his approach to governance, Munger emphasized his ability to bring a fresh perspective to the board. 

Although he does not have personal relationships with any current board members, he sees himself as part of the next generation of leaders in Lincolnshire.

“I’m part of the next generation, and I think I can bring a fresh perspective to the board,” he said.

There are four candidates vying for three trustee positions, and Munger believes it’s important for voters to elect those who are committed to good government and responsible management of the village’s resources.

“There are four candidates running for three spots. Two of the others are incumbents, and one is a challenger,” he explained. “I believe voters should choose candidates committed to good government and responsible resource management. I’ll continue the successful strategies of this and past boards, focusing on thoughtful development and smart decision-making.”

Munger sees the race as an opportunity to focus on issues rather than political labels, stressing that it is a non-partisan race where the emphasis should be on what’s best for the village.

“It’s a non-partisan race, which allows us to focus on the issues instead of party labels,” he said. “I want to work with anyone who shares the goal of thoughtful development and making Lincolnshire a great place to live.”

Ultimately, Munger’s motivation to run for trustee is rooted in his desire to make Lincolnshire an even better place for his young son.

“I’m motivated by a desire to make Lincolnshire an awesome place for my son, and I hope to earn the community’s vote,” he said.

Munger is one of four candidates competing for three seats on the Village of Lincolnshire Trustee, alongside Elliot Dubin, Jill Raizin and Robert Mitchell.