As a local architect, Kimberlee Smith listens to people’s dreams for their houses and works to make it into a reality. As a potential candidate for Oak Park village trustee, she hopes to do the same for the dreams of the community.
“I have zero ego in this process. I’m not looking to like be anything other than a public servant,” said Smith. “I have no aspirations beyond helping the village through a very difficult and fractious process with the zoning and anything, if I can add my level-headed pragmatism in any way, I’m willing to do that.”
She first visited Oak Park while she was studying at the University of Notre Dame to see the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio with friends. She later worked on projects in the village as an architect and fell in love with the community. Ultimately, she moved her business and family to Oak Park, falling in love even more every year she stays.
Smith said she never expected to run for village trustee and was even a little “reluctant” to do so as she has a “busy, full life” with her architectural practice, position on the zoning board of appeals, family and helping coach football at ORPF.
However, she did not feel listened to in regard to proposed single-family zoning changes and wants to see a change in how issues in the village are addressed. She feels the skills she has gained through her experience as an architect in Oak Park and a member of the zoning board of appeals makes her “uniquely appropriate and qualified as a candidate.”
In Oak Park, “we all share amazing, wonderful values, and we all want what’s best for everyone. I think we’re all on the same page there. I just wish we were a little more outcomes based as opposed to ideological about things,” said Smith.
Smith does not want to be considered a “one-issue candidate” and views zoning as a through-line to many different aspects of the village. She wants to prioritize economic vitality and sustainability efforts, should she be elected, and look at solutions from a holistic point of view for how a change in one area could affect the other.
“It’s a bunch of threads woven together into one fabric, it has to be,” said Smith.
She said she is not opposed to change, and knows zoning changes have been discussed for years as she works with them every day but feels “we’re putting the cart before the horse,” with more information still needed.
“I change the landscape of our village every single day with my projects, but I do it judiciously, and I do it with care and stewardship,” said Smith.
Being a steward for the community is another driving force of her platform, placing the most emphasis on listening. The conversations she has with community members now, and her hopes to continue the conversations while she’s potentially in office, is her favorite part of the process.
“Having those conversations with people and having people call me or text me or email me or whatever, stop me in the street because they’ve heard from someone else that I’m running to encourage me that has been extremely uplifting,” said Smith.
Above all else, is her love for Oak Park and the understanding that “no matter what side anyone’s on” they all love Oak Park too.
“I bleed orange and blue. I love this village. I love our schools. I love our park district. I love our libraries. I love walking around and talking with people,” said Smith. “I love everything about it.”
The election for local positions including three available seats on the village board will be held April 6, 2027.