I am writing to disagree with Alan Krause’s suggestion in last week’s issue. [1]
Mr. Krause opines that Village President Vickie Scaman set a binding precedent in October 2022 when she appointed Cory Wesley to the board following the resignation of Arti Walker-Peddakotla. She selected Wesley in part because he had the next highest vote total in the 2022 election. Significantly, Wesley, like Walker-Peddakotla, championed equity and affordability, making him a like-minded candidate.
Now Trustee Susan Buchanan is stepping down and President Scaman needs to appoint someone to take her place, pending board approval.
Trustee Buchanan has been a strong and vocal advocate for sustainability and environmental justice, based on her expertise as a professor at UIC and as associate director of its Occupational and Environmental Medicine residency program. I am very grateful to Buchanan for her leadership in our village on these issues.
In fact, I chose the candidates I voted for in this year’s election in part because I knew Buchanan was on the board. None of the unelected candidates featured sustainability front and center in their campaigns. And the next highest vote getter was Lucia Robinson, who voters chose not to return to the board.
Therefore, I disagree with Mr. Krause. I support the process that President Scaman outlined in your May 12 article [2], in which she said she would seek someone with similar legislative priorities as Buchanan.
Your thought process is sound, President Scaman, and I am glad you are seeking someone with expertise in sustainability and environmental justice to join our board.
Sources:
1. https://www.oakpark.com/2025/05/20/scamans-appointment-process/
2. https://www.oakpark.com/2025/05/12/susan-buchanan-resigns-from-oak-park-village-board/
Kris Hansen
Oak Park