The Wednesday Journal sent questionnaires to each person running for public office in 2025. The Journal’s questions are in bold and the candidate’s responses are below.
Political experience
Oak Park has immense potential, and I see local leadership as a way to unlock it. As Village President, I will prioritize safety, attract $500 million in private investments to reduce reliance on property taxes, and ensure effective governance to build our shared future. I first served Oak Park as an Environment and Energy Commissioner and have been a Village Trustee for four years, earning the most votes in the 2021 election. I successfully advocated for a flat levy (0% tax increase) in 2023 and opposed the $150 million Village Hall project—prioritizing instead the much-needed police station. With 20 years of leadership experience in complex corporate environments, I know how to build consensus, attract investments, implement shared visions, and deliver results for Oak Park.
Community experience
I have been actively engaged in sustainability efforts at the local, state, national, and international levels for decades. My award-winning work in Ontario made electricity more affordable, reinforcing my commitment to practical, results-driven solutions that improve lives. During the pandemic, I founded Takeout 25, an award-winning initiative that helped local restaurants survive. Today, Takeout 25 is a registered nonprofit focused on sustainability, food security, and small business empowerment. It has connected 16,000+ community members and 110+ local restaurants and has partnered with and supported impactful local non profits like New Moms, Housing Forward, Beyond Hunger, One Voice for Arts, and others, strengthening our community through collaboration.
As village president, how will you respond to Trump administration policies on a local level?
Current federal policies threaten Oak Park’s values in two key ways: • Withholding Community Development Block Grants for social programs and federal grants to support public safety and health. • Enforcing federal immigration policies that conflict with our commitment to inclusivity. If federal funding is withheld, we will be forced to rethink how we allocate local funds to ensure continued support for critical services. We also need an action-oriented strategy to collaborate with our supportive Illinois state government. Additionally, we must refocus local spending on real community needs rather than wasteful projects like the $150+ million Village Hall project promoted by President Scaman that price residents out of our community.
How is Oak Park doing on promoting economic development and vitality? What needs to change?
Oak Park deserves leadership that delivers results, not delays. Two years after disbanding the Oak Park Economic Development Corporation, we still lack a clear economic development plan or vision. The Economic Vitality Plan has been needlessly delayed, leaving key sites like the Mohr property undeveloped and retail vacancies unaddressed. We must take a strategic approach working with the Chamber, Visit Oak Park etc.. I’ve proven how innovative solutions can drive impact without tax dollars through Takeout 25 which strengthened the small business economy. As Village President, I will prioritize $500 million in strategic investments, strengthening our economy while ensuring growth supports—not displaces—small businesses and preserves our architectural legacy as a key economic asset.
What are your thoughts on the new leaf collection program and would you support repealing the decision to bag leaves for collection?
The January 28, 2024, Fall Leaf Collection Report confirms what residents already know—citizen concerns were ignored in the report and in the March 12th decision to switch to leaf bagging. Video evidence shows President Scaman dismissed street sweeping as “not working” and declared, “I’m fairly convinced this (leaf bagging) is where we’re going to go”, bypassing community input. She later reversed her stance in April—but the damage was done. In 2023, 2,196 tons of leaves were collected; in 2024, only 580 tons, forcing residents including seniors to manage 1,616 tons on their own. This was a poorly planned decision. As Village President, I will listen to residents and vote to repeal this policy, ensuring equitable, cost-effective solutions.
With federal COVID-era funds coming to an end, how can Oak Park fund special efforts such as it did with migrants or to invest in sustainability?
Too often, we just throw money at problems. Instead, clearly defining the problem leads to more effective, cost-efficient solutions—sometimes without any funding. Takeout 25 proved this, as collective action provided meals for migrant families, and established Illinois’ first Green Dining Hub in Oak Park—all without tax dollars. That said, the Village Board’s role is to allocate funds responsibly for essential services. However, four years after the pandemic, we continue to rely on pandemic-era federal funds for local priorities leaving us vulnerable. This is why fiscal responsibility matters. Innovative thinking, strategic leadership, and effective governance ensure every dollar spent delivers real impact for Oak Park.
The Oak Park Police Department has been seriously understaffed for multiple years. What will you do to recruit and retain officers to ensure public safety needs are met?
My top priority is to create a positive work environment for police officers, ensuring they feel valued and supported while maintaining accountability and the Village Board must lead by example. Unfortunately, during discussions on FLOCK cameras (Automated License Plate Readers), professional staff were treated with disrespect and distrust, undermining their expertise and demoralizing the department. My priorities informed by experts include: • Lateral hiring ,training and competitive pay adjustments • Technology investments, including ALPRs and a new Records Management System. • Expedited construction of a new police facility, Oak Park deserves leadership that prioritizes both public safety and responsible governance.
Please add final thoughts not covered in this questionnaire. These responses may appear online.
Over the past four years, lack of clear goals and inefficient governance have stalled progress in Oak Park. Instead of focused, results-driven leadership, we’ve seen open-ended discussions without tangible outcomes. Despite these inefficiencies, President Scaman voted for a self serving 58% pay raise for the Village President. I voted “No.” I have also pledged to donate my pay raise to impactful nonprofits like Housing Forward and Beyond Hunger, ensuring these funds serve those in need rather than increasing my salary. Another example of poor governance is the $1 million set aside for the privately owned Percy Julian home—approved after the final public budget hearing, with no legal or financial plan. Dr. Julian’s contributions to science are extraordinary and his legacy is worth honoring. However this set aside was done without even consulting Faith Julian, Dr Julian’s daughter who lives in that family home. I spoke to Faith Julian and she was just as surprised as I was to learn about this from me.