Pete Jansons, co-host of the Lake Forest Podcast, said local leaders showed courage in 2020 by speaking out after George Floyd’s death but remained silent following Charlie Kirk’s assassination, calling their inaction “cowardice” rather than neutrality.
“Leadership is not about standing on the safe side of history; it's about standing with your people when it costs you something," said Jansons on the Lake Forest podcast. “If you can't do that, you're not a leader—you're just a placeholder. In 2020, after the George Floyd tragedy, Lake Forest officials and clergy came out to Market Square. They spoke at rallies, praised the organizers, and said, ‘Your silence is permission.’”
“Fast forward to 2025: another national tragedy—the political assassination of Charlie Kirk. Same Market Square," said Jansons. “The community gathered, lit candles, and prayed. But this time—silence. No Mayor Randy Tack, no City Council, no city manager, and almost no clergy except one pastor, Jim Buckman, who had the courage to stand with the people. The silence wasn’t neutrality; it was cowardice. I reached out directly to our leaders to give them a chance to explain themselves.”
This full episode is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
This episode of the Lake Forest Podcast features Pete addressing expectations of civic leadership in Lake Forest following the Charlie Kirk assassination. The discussion explores whether leaders should stay silent or speak out, touching on issues of elitism, voting, and public responsibility. The hosts also cover topics such as rising property taxes, Pepper Construction’s disputed donation to Lake Forest High School, and local media coverage, including Dan Proft airing an Aaron Del Mar clip.
The Lake Forest podcast is hosted by Pete Jansons, an entrepreneur with a background in neuroscience; Rick Lesser, an attorney and former village trustee; and Joe Weiss, who has experience in multiple government and public service positions. The podcast covers topics and politics impacting the area around the city of Lake Forest, according to the Lake Forest podcast website.
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