Dean Berglund
Dean Berglund is running for the Cook County Commissioner seat in District 4
Born and raised in Cook County, Dean has been a business owner for more than 36 years. He is the president of the Devil Track Lake Association and also serves on the board of the Cook County Coalition of Lake Associations. He has graciously agreed to share some of his history with our readers as well as tell us why he is running for county commissioner.
I was born and raised on a small farm on Maple Hill. It was a great place to be a boy. I spent time working on the farm, but made time to ride horses, mini-bikes, snowmobiles, and enjoyed camping and swimming at the Devil Track Falls.
I couldn’t have had a better place to grow up.
In high school I worked at the old Cobblestone Gas Station Dealership from the time I was 16 until I finished my senior year. It was an excellent experience, and I learned a lot through working there.
In 1981 I graduated high school and was employed by Hedstrom Lumber as a truck driver, which was the job I was hoping to do. During the next two years, I drove for a variety of loggers, and I was out traveling all over the country for a long-distance trucking operation, so I got to see a lot of the country at an early age.
To date, I have been to every state in the continental union. I have been through all of Canada and taken in the many and varied sites looking through a windshield of a Peterbilt semi.
Early 1984, my brother and I bought our first logging truck, and we purchased a second truck within four months. We both worked hauling pulpwood for local loggers for the next two and one-half years. At that point, I needed a change of scenery and moved my trucking business to the Chicago area. From there, I trucked all across the country, but mostly hauled loads to Wisconsin cities and to California, bringing produce from California back to the Midwest.
Not only was this an excellent opportunity to see the country, it was a chance for me to meet and get to know a lot of different people and experience different cultures from ours. To see all of the diversity of people, faith and cultures that I observed was a blessing.
In 1989, I turned my truck towards Minnesota and ended up in Grand Marais. Now that I was back home, once again, I hauled wood for the local loggers. Until seven years ago, I would also go back on the road across the country to supplement my income.
In 1990, I bought land and built a home on Devil Track Lake, and I have been there ever since. I couldn’t ask for a more wonderful place to live and raise my boys. Over the years, we have utilized the lake for fishing, boating and enjoyed lots of family camping in the county.
Speaking of my boys, I have three of them. My oldest just graduated high school in the most unique graduation in the history of Cook County High School. My other two boys are 16 and 13 years old.
Why am I running for county commissioner? I have long since been interested in politics at the federal, state, city, and township levels. I have been vocal on any number of subjects, but now I believe it’s time to act.
Over the years, I have watched our county got through various changes. At this point in time, I would like to be part of what makes this county such a great place to live, work, and visit. With my experience in business and knowing what it takes to balance a checkbook and how fast and how far a dollar can go, I believe I could make a good representative for District 4. This District is made up of full time and part-time (seasonal) residents and I believe I would make a good representative for them.
To learn about the issues, I have been attending county board meetings since January. This has allowed me to see and understand the process the county board goes through before making decisions.
If I am elected, I will always be a voice for the people. My vote will be based on understanding the matter(s) at hand and will be made at the will of the voters. Integrity, honesty, and having a clear conscience with the decisions I have made will make me an excellent county commissioner, as well as allow me to sleep soundly at night.
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