Activist Toolkit

1. What motivates you to seek this office? What skills, experiences, and perspectives would you bring to the Township, and why would those contributions be valuable in the role of Oak Park Township Clerk?

I have always admired Township government for being a local and responsive unit of government that serves the human needs of the community. I have served as the Township Clerk since 1997 and am very familiar with the structure of operations. I also was a junior high teacher for many years which helped me gain organizational and personal skills in working with people and maintaining accurate records, the main function of the Clerk’s duties.

2. What is your vision for the office of the Clerk? What role does the Clerk play in our Township government, and why is that role important? 

The Clerk’s Office should maintain clear, up to date accurate records of all Township public business; efficiently serve the public through transparency of Township records both FOIA and otherwise, serve as a resource for Voter Registration to community individuals and deputy registrars and their agencies. 

3. What steps will you take to improve and expand community engagement with the Township and the office of the Clerk? 

More information about Township and Clerk services is being posted on our website. Press releases and notices of important Township offerings and services have been published and expanded for public information.

4. What does transparency mean to you? How would you work to put it into practice as Clerk?

To me, transparency means open, honest and fair governmental practices, as well as providing easy access to local citizens regarding the governance, actions, and services of the Township. Along with our website, the Township Budget document clearly explains the functions of the Township as well as its financial practices. Requests for information have been and will continue to be available to the public.

5. How will you balance competing interests, such as your own values and opinions, input from Township staff and Trustees, and diverse views from the community? How would you describe your leadership style and your decision-making process generally? 

I have learned to listen carefully to others opinions in best forming an opinion on a topic. .As a member of the Town Board, I appreciate the Township staff and value their input. My leadership style is to do my part to attain the values and goals of our organization through conscientious work and cooperative efforts.

6. How do you define equity? Have recent discussions in the larger community informed or changed your thinking? 

I define equity as the equal and fair opportunities for all members in a community, which requires citizen input and governmental examination. While I believe in good public discussion, there is a growing divisive tone among some which I find concerning.

7. How do you plan to solicit feedback from people who may be experiencing this community in a different way than you? What barriers do you believe may exist in this process?

Citizens are welcomed in communicating their opinions to the Township, and we recently completed a citizen survey on perceptions of the Township. The biggest barrier I have seen to citizen feedback is indifference to participation including low voter turnouts sometimes for local elections.

8. How will you collaborate with neighboring communities? Discuss a specific initiative you would wish to undertake. What benefits and challenges would you anticipate?

We have a good partnership with River Forest Township for mutual services, including Mental Health and Youth Services, and also are active with both the Township Officials of Cook County and the Township Officials of Illinois for shared information on programs and services.

9. Give an example of a time when you worked to understand a situation or view different from your own. What helped you to move through that process? What hindered you as you moved through the process?

First, it is important to be open minded and respectful of different opinions, and treat the situation as an issue, not a personal judgment. Respect and listening followed by good discussion helps us to understand other viewpoints. We are all sometimes hindered by strong opinions or experiences that may seem similar.

10. What barriers do you see for community members who wish to engage with Oak Park Township? How would you work to reduce or eliminate those barriers? 

I honestly have not nor do I foresee any barriers for community members who wish to engage with the Township. We have long sought active participation for volunteers, Township Boards and Committees, and citizen input on programs and services.

11. What is your position on the extent to which the Township includes or should include accessibility features? Please address both physical structures and virtual/information processes.

The Township has long embraced accessibility. Our buildings have been designed or updated to be fully handicapped accessible. Virtual participation in public hearings has improved since the beginning of the COVID Pandemic, and we also have our website and contact information.

12. Residents often express confusion about the disparate roles of the Village and the Township, particularly in the wake of the advisory referendum on consolidation in 2018. What steps would you take to increase the visibility and community awareness of the Township’s mission and programs?

We continue to seek methods to better inform the public on Township mission and programs. Through our publications, website, press releases to  local media, along with direct notification to agencies about services for their respective clients.

13. What relationship do you believe the Township should have with the other local taxing bodies? How can the Township and other government bodies work best together?

I believe in collaboration with other governmental bodies, for both efficiency and cost savings. The Community Mental Health Board recently partnered with the Park District of Oak Park on a Community Wellness Center, which will assist many groups with their quality of life through wellness programs and activities. IGOV meets to listen and learn of governmental undertakings and discussion for joint programs and services.

14. What lessons learned from the adjustment of service and program delivery during the pandemic do you believe will be applicable going forward, even after the pandemic abates?

I was very impressed by the quick and efficient staff response to challenges of the pandemic. Senior Services continued virtual services online, as did youth services, and basic needs such as meal delivery with the assistance of dedicated workers and volunteers. There were no major service interruptions and we as a team are better prepared to face future challenges.

15. Two advisory referenda were added to the ballot in Oak Park in November of last year through a process at the Township. Do you believe non-binding referenda such as these are a useful tool for governance and civic engagement? Why or why not? 

The referenda are useful tools as a measurement of public opinion and input, but their subjects should be limited to relevant and community-based needs for Oak Park citizens. Recent years have featured confusing trade prohibitions on the national government level, and medical warnings on vaccinations that were criticized for being put on a Township referendum.

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[The above answers were supplied on 2/23/21.]