I want to keep Oak Park moving forward

Thank you to Wednesday Journal for your endorsement. Thank you to the VMA for your endorsement of Peter, Lori and me. It matters to me that the Journal and VMA have recognized what I have tried to accomplish in my service to our community and that I am prepared to continue to serve.

Thank you to Deno, Dan and Simone for your public statements regarding the attempt to keep us off the ballot and your belief voters should decide. That view has also been expressed at the administrative level and two judicial levels. I don’t know Kevin Peppard or Bob Milstein. I am sure they believe they are protecting the electorate and Oak Park values, but so far a court has not agreed with them. And we are on the ballot.

Speaking of values, there has been a lot of talk about values and that this election boils down to values versus economics. Like towns and the people in them, values evolve over time. When Percy Julian and his family moved to Oak Park, they were not welcomed. 

By expressing their displeasure that his family moved here, some thought they were reflecting Oak Park values. Others made sure the Julians felt welcome. In that spirit, I’m proud to have been part of the board that passed our Welcoming Ordinance so all will know they will be welcomed in Oak Park.

Thirty-five years ago, when I moved to Oak Park for the first time into an apartment at Madison and Kenilworth, I had to walk to Madison and Harlem to buy an adult beverage. Oak Park was dry and that reflected the values of the time. Not long ago, some said we were literally letting millions of dollars walk out of Oak Park. Now, with the vibrant restaurant scene, local craft brewers and other outlets, those millions stay within Oak Park and are being used in a fiscally responsible way to provide services upon which we depend.

I am committed to maintaining and supporting diversity and affordability throughout Oak Park by leading efforts such as the one that helped bring in $1 million for the affordable housing fund. I will continue to seek ways to improve the economic and regulatory climate for business development as we deploy the $3 million we received in federal money to support small and local business development. 

I will advocate for smart growth and development that provide many more community benefits than negative impacts. I am working with village staff to implement a strategy to equalize municipal employee pensions. 

I believe that updated technology is key to the delivery of village services and I will continue to work for those upgrades.

I’m running for re-election because, over the last four years, we have done a lot to move the village forward on a number of fronts and I would like to keep us moving in a positive direction. I ask for your vote on April 4. Contact me at www.LeadingOakParkForward.com.