Highland Park shows overwhelming support for change to liquor-license law

A sobering percentage of Highland Park voters believe the city should amend its code to allow elected officials to hold liquor licenses.

With all precincts reporting, according to Lake County results, 81.8% of the advisory vote is in favor of allowing residents with liquor licenses the ability to serve in city government. More than 16,000 Highland Park voters participated in the election. (Note: County results are not official until they are certified.)

As an advisory referendum, the measure does not require action from local government. It is unclear if and how Highland Park officials will use the results of the vote; however, in a statement issued Tuesday, Mayor Nancy Rotering said the issue will be discussed in 2025.

“We value public opinion. This topic is on our 2025 work plan and I look forward to a robust discussion when the council is seated in the spring of 2025,” she said.

The referendum made it to the ballot thanks to a petition that garnered more than 2,500 signatures, well over the 1,400 needed to qualify for the ballot in Lake County.

Irwin Bernstein is the man behind the petition and thus, referendum, and said on Tuesday that the results show the will of Highland Park residents.

“I think it went as we thought. The voters were very clear; they want a more inclusive City Council,” he said. “I think it’s a clear sign that voters are looking for new leadership and a new path forward for Highland Park.”

An obscure portion of the current Highland Park code prohibits City Council members from holding liquor licenses, a Prohibition-era law that in 2024 led to months of public debate, substantial resident feedback and eventually the resignation of Councilmember Jeff Hoobler, who is named on the liquor license for Ravinia Brewing Company.

In early 2024, after being made aware of its own liquor-license code, the Highland Park City Council considered amending it to allow for elected officials to hold liquor licenses, but the measure split the board in half and failed to pass. Hoobler resigned in April.

Bernstein believes the results of the election will lead to change, but he is not resting on his laurels. Prior to the election, he also started the political action committee Highland Park Forward, which is co-chaired by Hoobler. He said the group hopes to identify and support candidates for the April 2025 municipal election who believe in an improved and more transparent local government.

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