I have served over 4 years as a trustee for the Winfield Fire District, served as a village trustee, spent 9 years on the Environmental Concerns Commission for the Village of Winfield and co-chaired Winfield’s 75th Jubilee and worked over 10 years at a major accounting firm. We have lived in Winfield since 1983 and owned and operated 3 successful businesses.
I have seen firsthand the disconnect between our local government and the residents it is meant to serve. On the ballot last November overwhelming voter support required voter approval before the Village spends millions on a Village Hall-but that mandate was entirely dismissed. The residents deserve better-better decisions, better representation.
The first most significant issue is the financing of a new Village Hall. The Administration is trying to fund that project with TIF funds. This approach not only siphons millions from the school districts but has resulted in a wasteful and costly lawsuit. TIF funds are specifically meant for economic development. The Village Hall belongs to the voters/taxpayers-any decision regarding the future of that project rightly belongs to them, so that is where I would put it.
More than once local authorities have undermined a citizen initiative from appearing on the ballot by “stuffing the ballot.” This is a form of voter suppression and limits the ability of people to weigh-in on decisions or policies. I would protect access to the ballot.
Transparency and collegiality are 2 sides of the same coin. When the board works with a focus on our duties to the community, transparency becomes a natural extension of that work. By building trust and demonstrating that we are united in our commitment to the residents, it creates an environment where transparency isn’t an afterthought but, rather, an integral part of everything we do.
The past 4 years, I have been circulating several petitions to advocate for the community. The questions proposed on the petitions reflect my commitment to transparency and decision-making that includes people in a meaningful way. The work I have done circulating petitions over the past few years has not been an easy task. If elected, I will bring that same persistence and determination to fight for the changes our Village needs. No matter the outcome, I consider it a privilege to have been a small part of a much larger voice.
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