Oak Park Village Attorney Paul Stephanides is leaving his position to serve as the village attorney for Glen Ellyn starting July 22.
Stephanides has been in his role in Oak Park for more than 10 years, during which time he has provided legal counsel to the village. Notable experiences for Stephanides include writing contracts and coordinating with local and state entities during the COVID-19 pandemic and throughout the migrant crisis. He has more than 34 years of legal expertise, according to Glen Ellyn officials.
“Glen Ellyn was seeking an experienced attorney to work closely with the village board and management team to assist with a wide variety of community projects,” said Mark Franz, Glen Ellyn’s village manager, in a statement. “Paul is very excited about working with this experienced team, continuing the success of Glen Ellyn and contributing to its growth.”
Stephanides was hired to work at Oak Park in 2013 following former village attorney Ray Heise’s retirement after almost 30 years in the role.
“The Village of Oak Park is grateful for the decade-plus that Paul Stephanides has served as our village attorney,” Oak Park Village Manager Kevin Jackson said in a statement. “His depth of knowledge and range of experience have been a tremendous benefit to the Oak Park community and we all wish him well in his next endeavor.”
The soon-to-be former Oak Park village attorney said he grew up in Glen Ellyn and has friends and family there. He sees this as an opportunity to do a lot of the same work, but at a different pace that fits where he is in life now.
He said he’s sad to be leaving, and he’ll miss working in Oak Park. Serving as village attorney has been a great opportunity to serve the community he loves, Stephanides said.
Stephanides’ last day at Oak Park is July 19, but he said he has no plans to move out of the village. He will still be a part of the community, and look for local gigs for his band, Nickel and Steel.
In a statement, Kevin Jackson said that a search for the village attorney’s replacement is underway. In the meantime, legal coverage may include “temporary outside legal guidance,” and help from assistant village attorneys, particularly during village board meetings.
Rasheda Jackson, who is not related to Kevin Jackson, is one assistant village attorney, and has stepped in at board meetings before, such as the contentious April 9 meeting when some community members pushed for a ceasefire resolution. The village is also working to recruit a second assistant village attorney.
Stephanides will step into his new position after a swearing-in at a Glen Ellyn village board meeting. He is taking over for Greg Mathews, who retired after 10 years as Glen Ellyn’s village attorney, according to officials.
Stephanides was previously an attorney and partner at Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton & Taylor, Ltd., a law firm in Chicago. According to Oak Park officials, his areas of expertise include counseling for local government boards, labor and employment law, election law, land use and zoning, real estate, construction law and litigation.
Stephanides has a law degree from DePaul University. He is the regional vice president of the International Municipal Lawyers Association, president of the Illinois Local Governmental Lawyers Association, and chair of the Illinois Municipal League Home Rule Attorneys Committee, according to Glen Ellyn.