Highland Park, IL – Andrés Tapia, a visionary, results-oriented, compassionate leader committed to economic development, inclusivity, and environmental sustainability, all while ensuring the City remains safe, financially sound, and responsive to residents’ needs, announced today his candidacy for re-election to the Highland Park City Council.
As a thirty-three-year resident with decades of public service to the community, Tapia is running on a record of delivering tangible results for an even more welcoming and thriving Highland Park.
Tapia’s first term has been marked by collaborative leadership, which contributed to several key achievements. “In my first term, I worked diligently with my fellow councilmembers to advance these priorities,” says Tapia.
Economic Development
Among his most significant strategic accomplishments was his role in influencing the establishment of Economic Development as one of Highland Park’s five priority pillars. This prioritization led to thoughtful and meaningful investments in streetscape, lightscape, and landscape improvements for a holistic beautification of downtown and enhancements to the City’s other business districts. He was also influential in successfully advocating for business incentives to make Highland Park more attractive to new restaurant concepts as well as supporting current restaurants’ upgrades. This has led to more businesses opening in Highland Park, increasing commercial occupancy, and fostering a more vibrant community.
Tapia is also committed to addressing outdated ordinances, including advocating for the repeal of a Prohibition-era ban that prevents liquor license holders from running for public office, which led to an unnecessary and unfair removal of a duly elected official.
An Inclusive Vision
Inclusivity has been another cornerstone of Tapia’s leadership. Drawing on his extensive experience as a globally renowned diversity, equity, and inclusion expert, he has worked to ensure Highland Park is a city where everyone feels they belong, including during his tenure on the Housing Commission overseeing inclusionary housing. Tapia played a key role in forming and/or strengthening advisory groups in Highland Park that represent underrepresented communities, including Latinos and people with disabilities. He has been a steadfast advocate for celebrating the cultural heritage of all residents, including their religions, nationalities, racial and ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities, and physical and neurodiverse abilities.
Environmental Sustainability: Reach Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2035
Tapia supported the Council’s adoption of Environmental Sustainability as an additional fifth official priority, aligning with the City’s pledge to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2035. This included expanding renewable energy use in public buildings, implementing citywide composting services, and enacting a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers, which will go fully into effect in 2026.
Highland Park: The City of the Arts
Tapia also recognizes the unique role of the arts in defining Highland Park’s character. “I’m committed to amplifying the advocacy by those who came before me for Highland Park to embrace its unique identity as The City of the Arts, as part of our City’s proclaimed brand and also as an economic engine for the City,” says Tapia. “After all, we are home to the world-renowned Ravinia Music Festival, the Port Clinton Art Fair—the largest arts fair in the Midwest—and The Art Center Highland Park, the center of gravity for the arts in the North Shore and Lake County.” Highland Park’s identity is further manifested in the many art galleries across the city and by the disproportionate number of performers, dancers, comedians, costume makers, and world-class concert talent who live here.
A City That Works
In addition to these strategic priorities, Tapia remains steadfast in his commitment to Highland Park’s foundational priorities required to have a well-run city: public safety, fiscal stability, and infrastructure. During his first term, he was part of the City team that had to respond to the myriad consequences of the epidemic and the mass shooting, oversaw balanced budgets every year totaling nearly $130 million while maintaining Highland Park’s AAA bond rating, and supported significant infrastructure projects totaling over $100M over the past 4 years to modernize roads, bridges, sidewalks, and other public spaces.
Professional Background
As a Senior Partner at Korn Ferry, Tapia leads as a global consultant on leadership, talent, organizational culture, and diversity, advising Fortune 500 companies and nonprofits on building inclusive, innovative, and effective organizations. He is also a nationally recognized thought leader, author of several books and a sought-after public speaker.
In his first term, Tapia made local history as the first Latino elected to the Highland Park City Council. Originally from Lima, Peru, he moved to the United States to attend Northwestern University, where he studied modern history, political science, and journalism. He and Lori raised their daughter, Marisela, in Highland Park, where she attended the City’s public schools, including the Dual Language program that Tapia helped bring to Highland Park. Marisela is now a Spanish language and culture teacher, and international performing artist.
For more details, see re-electandres4citycouncil.com
The Highland Park City Council election is April 1, 2025.
Contact:
Andrés Tapia
1349 Lincoln Ave. S, Highland Park, IL 60035
Cell: 847.926.8987
Email: andres@re-elect4citycouncil.com
Web: re-electandres4citycouncil.co