Activist Toolkit

1. What motivates you to seek this office? What skills, experiences, and perspectives would you bring to the Board of Trustees, and why would those contributions be valuable to the Village of River Forest?

I want to build on the progress we have collectively made over the last eight years. I am a long-time resident, raised my daughter here, and I love this place! 

For eight years, I have built consensus at the Board table by carefully synthesizing information, solving problems, listening, and communicating. A steady temperament is necessary to successfully negotiate complex contracts and collective bargaining agreements. Collaborating with taxing districts and neighboring communities also requires tact and patience. 

As an Executive Vice President and General Manager of a Fortune 500 company who managed complex $1 billion budgets, and as your current Village President, I am the person to lead our $30 million government. 

My position on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Municipal League allows me to further advocate on behalf of River Forest residents - and the entire state. 

In this time of uncertainty, River Forest must have an experienced, qualified, steady leader, a strategic thinker with a long term-vision and a solid finance background to recover from the unexpected impact of COVID-19 and meet other challenges. 

My effective leadership is worth your vote on April 6, 2021.

Please visit my campaign website, Facebook and LinkedIn pages for more information.

2. What steps will you take to improve and expand community engagement with the Village and the Board? What is your view on how to involve residents in the decision making process in our Village?

Community engagement is a hallmark of open government and democracy. I have long appreciated and encouraged residents to make suggestions, contributions and comments on how we can make our Village more transparent. 

Here are some of the steps we have taken: 

• Make notices and packets for our regular and special meetings readily available. Audio and live streaming video of meetings are accessible. 

• Conduct multiple public meetings on major projects to gain resident input. Each project has a separate page on our website.

• Distribute a monthly newsletter. They have gone out as needed since the COVID-19 pandemic. 

• Offer a more user-friendly website. Update the website regularly.

• Streamline the application process for our commissions and committees. Appointed several new residents through this process. Post an open letter on our website encouraging residents to join. 

• Provide a Community Calendar of RFHappenings that gives residents another source for information on meetings and activities. 

• The Village is active on Facebook and Instagram as the result of a resident survey on social media. 

Residents have strong input in our decision-making. A good example is the inclusion of protections from eminent domain in our TIF ordinances after residents expressed concerns to the Board.

3. Give an example of a time when you worked to understand a situation or view different from your own. What helped you to move through that process? What hindered you as you moved through the process?

My views on race and equity – and the issues affecting people of color – have evolved. Important and regular conversations with friends and community members engaged in social justice work helped me understand the need to adopt an anti-race stance, advocate for those who face discrimination within our community and strengthen our commitment to real equity. I’ve read widely on the subject and focused community attention on how COVID-19 has disproportionately affected minorities. 

The events of 2020 and the subsequent protests throughout our nation have helped me realize even more so that we need to have difficult discussions around race and equity in our own community.What has helped is that these difficult conversations are being embraced; the hindrance is that these are challenging issues that we need to be engaged in, topics with high emotion and self-discovery.We need to address them respectfully and with open minds.

4. Who or what is your role model for your approach to governing?

I’ve been fortunate to work side-by-side with exceptional role models throughout my life, and their leadership characteristics and moral character have influenced my own approach to governance. A child of a family of modest means, I gained a strong work ethic and sense of trust from my parents. 

The men and women I worked with at Unisys Corporation for over 33 years helped me develop my value of empathetic decision-making. As Executive Vice President and General Manager supervising over 1,000 employees, I grasped the importance of consensus building and taking action.

I am now on several for-profit and non-profit boards and look at my colleagues as role models because, with them, I have found that teamwork is paramount. 

I view myself as a role model for civic-minded youth, a mentor for young-up-and-coming leaders and future philanthropists. Drawing from their strength, inspiration and dedication, I have learned to govern better.

5. What do you feel are the three biggest issues facing River Forest, and how do you intend to address them? How will you prioritize among competing priorities?

We will prioritize our issues by our community values and guiding principles; and address all of them head on! 

1. Ensure Safety and Health for all 

• Enable collaboration and use data-driven metrics to address COVID-19 recovery for our residents and businesses.

• Work with the Cook County Public Health Department and partners to ensure the equitable rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine.

• Increase the safety of our roads (i.e., Safe Route to School Safety Plan) for pedestrians and bicyclists. 

• Fund technology and public safety personnel that will advance the safety of our residents. 

2. Stabilize Property Taxes using Effective Governance. 

• Deliver responsive government, accountability, and data-informed decision making. 

• Advocate at the Federal and State levels to ensure that River Forest receives our fair share of funding for essential community needs.

3. Strengthen our Quality of Life for Residents and Businesses

• Create, implement, and fund programs to advance aging initiatives/policy as recommended by the Age-Friendly Advisory Ad-Hoc Committee. Address ageism wherever needed. 

• Advance the approved Affordable Housing Action Plan.

• Support the Dominican University partnership, using the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Framework, and the internal DEI advisory group to build a better, bolder and more equitable future throughout River Forest.

6. How would you characterize appropriate oversight of the Village Administrator by the Board? Given that River Forest will soon have a new Village Administrator, what challenges or opportunities do you expect the Board to face in its oversight role?

River Forest has a traditional village president/trustee-village administrator form of governing system per Illinois municipal code Article 3.1. This form of government gives the Board and the President voices in hiring important employees and setting policy and practices that will affect our finances, property taxes, safety, quality of life and community values. 

Under our form of government, the Board and I do not micro-manage, but let the village administrator and staff implement the Board’s direction on all policies and practices. I do not anticipate change in the Board’s oversight role with a new Administrator. 

We have an exceptional full-time team at Village Hall with Acting Village Administrator Scheiner, Police Chief O’Shea, Fire Chief Bohlmann, Village Attorney Smith, Finance Director McAdams and other staff members. 

Hiring a highly qualified Village Administrator who will supervise our staff and work with the Board is our most important responsibility. My extensive experience in hiring key personnel at Unisys and as Village President will be invaluable in selecting River Forest’s new Village Administrator. 

7. What do you believe has been the most significant action taken by the Board in recent years, and why? Do you believe the Board acted appropriately?

The most significant action we have taken was the Board’s decision last year to decrease the village portion of our property tax bill. This historic action allowed our residents a reprieve from property tax increases due to inflation and other factors. 

We needed to give our residents some form of relief so they could continue to live here. This was not only appropriate, but it needs to be an important principle that all local, state, and federal elected officials should value: to be an effective fiduciary of our taxpayers' money. 

The Board and I were able to take this action because of years of sound fiscal management and streamlining government processes. River Forest will continue to manage and balance the budget throughout this challenging - and unusual - period. 

To find other sources of revenue, we will: 

• Partner with agencies and organizations to help residents and businesses recover from the effects of COVID-19. 

• Advocate and collaborate to get federal funding for COVID-19 relief and infrastructure from the Biden Administration that will go directly to states and municipalities. 

• Seek grants and other revenue opportunities while looking for ways to deliver our services more effectively and efficiently.

8. How do you define racial equity? Have recent events and discussions in the larger community informed or changed your thinking? 

My thinking around racial equity has evolved over the past year. These situations have led to deeper conversations with Dominican University President Donna Carroll about working together, and taking action, around racial equity using the University’s Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Framework. 

In the coming weeks, we will begin to form our Village working group to examine our policies and practices relative to racial equity, inclusion and diversity. This will be an ongoing commitment- a way of life, perhaps uncomfortable and disruptive at times, but it will lead us to being a stronger and more welcoming community, a more democratic union. 

Acknowledging the worth and dignity of each individual is who we are in River Forest, and I am proud of our commitment to this undertaking.

9. How do you plan to solicit feedback from people who may be experiencing River Forest in a different way than you? What barriers do you believe may exist in this process?

In my private life, I worked for a Fortune 500 corporation where different views were welcomed, where change was the norm, and where disruption often meant progress. I’ve learned in my life that the whole is better than the parts. 

If you know me, you know I am accessible to all residents, businesses, and anyone doing business in River Forest. If you text, email or show up to our board meeting, I will get back to you. At Village Hall, I have asked the staff to try to return any message within 2 business days. I am engaged on social media. I want to talk with

residents, no matter their points of view. I want to hear them, engage with them and take action to incorporate their views into what we do at the Board table. All our policies and ordinances are discussed openly and transparently. 

The only barrier to this thinking would be us not embracing change.

10. What is your position on the extent to which the Village includes or should include accessibility features? Please address both physical structures and virtual/information processes.

I am a strong advocate for accessibility, particularly when it comes to aging-in-place and people with disabilities. 

I created and Chair the Mayor’s Caucus Age-Friendly Communities Collaborative, which looks at areas such as housing, transportation and access to key services. I endorse zoning changes that would make housing affordable and adaptable and ensure that River Forest institutions comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, especially on new construction. 

I also would advocate for: 

• Making traffic lights longer so people can cross the streets in an easier and more timely fashion. 

• Making our sidewalks safer by continuing to evaluate and reduce the possibilities of trip and fall incidents. 

• Increasing the number of benches along our parkways.

• Expanding our COVID-19 Senior Response Team to find other ways we can assist seniors due to COVID. 

• Continuing to make sure that our village website materials are easily accessible to all, including people with disabilities. 

According to our census, 31 percent of our population is 60 and older; that segment is growing faster than any other group in River Forest, which makes taking these actions even more important.

11. How can the Village encourage and support locally-owned businesses in River Forest?

One of the most important roles for our community is to provide support for our local businesses. They are the backbone of our Village. In 2013, we formed the Economic Development Commission (EDC) to find ways of promoting locally owned businesses. We highlight new and existing businesses in the Village’s newsletter. 

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, I issued an executive order (PDF) that reduced fees for small businesses so that they could remain open. EDC developed a series of YouTube spots to promote small business during the pandemic. 

I advocate for a strong regional alliance and collaboration with surrounding communities to support our current businesses. River Forest grows when there is a strength in numbers of patrons. A good example of that is the Takeout 25 initiative. 

In the coming year, the EDC will examine how to attract additional small businesses, and we will use our Tax Increment Financing Districts to create redevelopment and encourage small businesses to come to River Forest. 

I have recently been endorsed for re-election by the Illinois Realtors Association of Oak Park River Forest because of my pro-business position, the creation of a welcoming and supporting business starter kit (PDF), and a commitment to assisting small businesses and encouraging entrepreneurship.

12. The Village Board passed an Affordable Housing Plan last June, which included a number of specific actions to be considered by village commissions. What is your stance on affordable housing in River Forest, and which, if any, of those actions would you push forward?

After over a year discussion and several public meetings, the Plan Commission, by unanimous vote, advanced an Affordable Housing Plan to the Village Board. The affordable housing plan met and exceeded the statutory requirement of the Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act (AHPAA) by the Board passing six specific actions. I am for the Affordable Housing Plan advanced by the Village Board. 

This plan is also consistent with the recommendations of our updated Comprehensive Plan. 

The Plan preserves existing affordable housing and encourages new affordable housing through bonus incentives. We are confident these measures will address how people with modest incomes, including those who are disabled or who want to age-in-place can live in River Forest. 

The Village has taken a very important step toward a solid affordable housing plan. I advocate to push all of those 6 specific actions forward, many of which require changes to our zoning code which are underway with the Zoning Board.

13. What impact can a municipality such as River Forest have on climate change, and how will you prioritize that work among other issues? [For incumbents: What actions have you taken in office with respect to climate change?]

Municipalities can make an impact on climate change by creating specific policies, practices and actions to address the issue. 

River Forest created the Sustainability Commission to help us take some significant steps toward easing climate change, including: 

1. Starting curbside composting. 

2. Implementing the healthy lawn, healthy family initiative.

3. Creating a bike path plan (PDF).

4. Advancing solar power growth by achieving the Solsmart Bronze designation. 

5. Establishing a green electric aggregation program that supports renewable energy projects. 

These programs will advance our goal of getting to zero CO2 emissions by 2050. 

We have installed permeable pavers in most of our alleys to control flooding; upgraded to LED lights to reduce the amount of electricity the Village uses. 

Since 2017, the Village has been part of the Chicago Climate Charter, PlanItGreen and the Greenest Region Compact. 

I will recommend the Board make these sustainable initiatives a priority: 

• Change zoning to consider that all new commercial properties be LEED certified. 

• Add electric vehicle charging stations along our Metra Station.

• Accelerate the purchase of electric vehicles when replacing ourgovernment fleet and encourage other entities in River Forest todo the same.

14. What are your plans for collaborating with our neighboring communities? What specific steps would you take in relation to the recent Twin Village Covenant with Maywood?

We will continue our current collaborations with neighboring communities, including: 

• Belonging to a group purchasing program. 

• Participating in mutual aid intergovernmental agreements with all of our neighbors. 

• Having a 911 emergency center with Oak Park, Elmwood Park and Forest Park.

• Sharing a high school with Oak Park. 

• Obtaining a grant with Elmwood Park to beautify the North Avenue streetscape. 

We will build on the dementia-friendly and livable communities initiatives we have started with the Aging in Place Collaborative (PDF) and the Regional Aging Collaborative; implement the my pledge for successful aging that I signed. Our Age-Friendly Advisory Ad Hoc Committee will play a key role in developing other initiatives along with appropriate neighboring stakeholders. 

River Forest will continue our strong partnerships with PlanItGreen and Greenest Region Compact to foster sustainability efforts. 

We already collaborate with Maywood on issues related to sustainability and age-in-place. We will forge a new collaboration with Maywood to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion starting with the Dominican University Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Framework initiative. 

As a second vice president of the Illinois Municipal League and past president of the West Central Municipal Conference, I will continue to advocate for more collaboration with other communities to build abetter River Forest.

15. Do you think River Forest’s TIF Districts have been a good and effective use of taxpayer funds? What material benefits have the North Avenue and Madison TIFs had? Should they be continued?

As nearly 50 percent of the land in River Forest is owned by non-profits and government entities and therefore cannot be taxed, we must do all we can to redevelop property along our commercial corridors. 

Yes, TIFs are the only long-term strategic tools available to modify and repurpose buildings, improve infrastructure and beautify the streetscape and are good for all taxing bodies (especially the school districts, since they are nearly 72% of our property tax bill). But for the TIF, often many commercial corridors don’t get redeveloped. 

River Forest formed TIFs on Madison Street and North Avenue as tools to foster redevelopment. We hope they will be as successful as the one we created for Lake Street. That TIF led to the construction of Town Centers 1 and 2 and brought Whole Foods Market to River Forest. 

We need to continue our new TIFs even though we will see the benefits over the next several years. What will be developed under these TIF’s is an open question, one guided by our zoning code and ordinances, the future state of the economy, good urban strategy, perseverance, and vision. 

16. What are your ideas for new partnerships with other taxing bodies within River Forest?

We have a Collaboration Committee - composed of a representative from each taxing body - and I plan to ask its members to create a COVID-19 recovery plan that will benefit all of us. 

The Village’s Age-Friendly Advisory Ad-Hoc committee will work with the Township, the Park District, and other stakeholders to reduce or eliminate barriers that can prevent persons from fully participating in social or recreational activities. 

Performing wellness checks for and reading to our aging adults would be two intergenerational services that could be coordinated between the Village, the Township, Elementary District 90 and the River Forest Public Library. 

We already collaborate with Dominican University on diversity matters, and I would urge that we partner with them on other matters including the use of green transportation.

I would also like to continue to discuss the need for a new civic center, which will address the needs of our school-age children and community at large. 

17. What is your vision for the future of River Forest? How will you promote substantive discussion, build consensus among trustees, and rally public support for your vision?

My vision is to maintain and continue the growth of River Forest as an outstanding place to live and work through focused and steady leadership and community engagement. I will continue to promote discussion and build consensus through trust, empathy, and listening to other points of view. 

We have made significant progress during these past 8 years that I have served as Village President, and I would like to build on that progress. I am a kind and caring person who wants to give back - all without a paycheck! 

I am excited to be running for your Village President. We have a bright future, and I am the candidate prepared and ready to continue to lead our community. 

Please visit my campaign website, Facebook and LinkedIn pages for more information. 

I ask for your vote on April 6, 2021. Remember you can vote by mail or vote early starting March 22.

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[The above answers were supplied on 2/19/21.]