Anan Abu-Taleb, candidate for Village President of Oak Park

Courtesy Committee to Elect Anan Abu-Teleb

Oak Park is at a crossroads. The decisions made now will determine whether we remain a Village true to our core values of fairness, diversity and equal opportunity for all, or we become a village that has created a barrier to entry based solely on economics.

Before I go into why I am running for Village President, I would like to start with a little about me. I was born on a citrus farm in the Gaza Strip, the second oldest of 13 children. At the age of 18, I came to the United States to go to college and received an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois-Chicago and an MBA from the University of Chicago. My wife Margi and I met in a summer class at Triton College. We have lived in Oak Park for more than 23 years and raised four wonderful children, Matthew, Paul, John, and Sarah. We have been business owners here for more than 17 years – first the restaurant Vivaldi and now Maya del Sol.

I am running as an independent candidate for Village President because I feel there is a need to eliminate the widening gap between our local government, residents, and the business community. I see a need for creativity in developing viable solutions for the community as a whole. I see a growing reliance on outsiders who lack roots in our Village to make decisions that are better crafted through the use of our committees and commissions that are made up of Oak Park residents. I believe that our government should act as a catalyst for growth and set the stage to be more competitive in recruiting and retaining residents and businesses and encouraging participation in formulating the vision for the next century.

For every tax dollar the Village collects, more than 75 cents comes from residents. Our government should make it a priority to deliver the best value for every tax dollar we pay. We should expect great customer service, increased property values, realistic taxes, and a meaningful voice in shaping our future.

As Village President, I will work to bring fiscal responsibility back to Village Hall. We must cut waste, red tape and spending that isn't strategically sound. I will fight hard to bring new thinking, new business, and new families to our Village. Our community deserves a visionary leader – one who focuses on future opportunities instead of being constrained by the past. My leadership qualities will inspire a positive and meaningful change in Oak Park.

Vote for change with your vote for me on April 9th. Together, we can be more. For more information on my campaign, please visit www.ananforoakpark.com.