Activist Toolkit has collaborated with community partners to build a comprehensive voter guide for the April 6, 2021 elections in River Forest. Each candidate was given the opportunity to complete a questionnaire developed by members of the River Forest community.
The sections linked below allow voters to explore individual candidates' websites and social media accounts, as well as links to articles, video from candidate forums, and any relevant campaign financial disclosures.
This guide will be updated with additional content as it appears. Please contact us here with questions or concerns.
[Updated 3/30/21]
ABOUT RIVER FOREST
River Forest, incorporated in 1880, is not a home rule community; six at-large trustees and the village president are elected. This Village Board hires and supervises a professional Village Administrator, who is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of government services.
River Forest facts and figures:
Population: 10,816 (2019)
2021 annual budget, general fund: $16.8 million
Median household income: $129,928
Per capita income: $83,466
Median value of owner-occupied housing: $596,000
Poverty rate: 3.6%
RIVER FOREST Village president (1 open seat)
Catherine M. Adduci | Patricia A. "Patty" Henek
RIVER FOREST Village Trustee (3 open seats)
Johann Buis | Lisa Gillis | Ken Johnson | Respicio F. Vazquez
RIVER FOREST Village CLERK (1 open seat)
River forest PARK DISTRICT BOARD (2 open seats)
Carl Bade | Mark Brown | Mike Grant | Brad West
river forest LIBRARY board (2 open seats)
District 90 school board (4 open seats)
Kathleen M. Avalos | Sarah J. Eckmann | Scott R. Hall
Nicole C.P. Thompson | Stacey Williams
District 200 school board (4 open seats)
Frederick D. Arkin | Thomas F. Cofsky | Kebreab Henry
Mary Anne Mohanraj | Elias Ortega | David Schrodt
River Forest Elementary School District 90:
Grades PKâ8: 1,477 students
Instructional spending per pupil: $9,991
Total operational spending per pupil: $16,114
Low-income students: 5%
Oak Park-River Forest High School District 200:
Grades 9â12: 3,398 students
Total operational spending per pupil: $23,641
Low-income students: 19%
Other River Forest taxing bodies include River Forest Park District, River Forest Public Library, River Forest Township, and Triton College (Community College District 504).
River Forest is home to two private universities, Dominican and Concordia, and both are important community partners. Thrive Counseling Center, OPRF Community Foundation, River Forest Citizens Corps, Parents Instrumental Music Association of River Forest, League of Women Voters of OPRF, and the Collaboration for Early Childhood are some of the many important local organizations working in partnership or collaboration with local taxing bodies.
RIVER FOREST TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR (1 open seat)
RIVER FOREST TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE (4 open seats)
Helene Connolly | Deana Herrman | Keith Strom | Karen Taubman
RIVER FOREST TOWNSHIP CLERK (1 open seat)
RIVER FOREST TOWNSHIP ASSESSOR (1 open seat)
TRITON COLLEGE TRUSTEE
6-YEAR FULL TERM (2 OPEN SEATS)
Luke Casson | Tracy Jennings | Andrew Charles Kopinski
Mark R. Stephens
TRITON COLLEGE TRUSTEE
2-YEAR UNEXPIRED TERM (1 OPEN SEAT)
Stacey Austin, Judy Deogracias, Paul Goyette, Melissa Diglio Healy, Carollina Song, and Lailani Workman contributed to the Candidate Questionnaires for River Forest. Thanks also to Cathy Adduci, Erika Bachner, and Alec Harris for additional assistance.