Activist Toolkit

1) Why do you want to serve as Commissioner? What makes you qualified to serve? 

We have been through a destabilizing pandemic that affected us on every level. It  highlighted the inequity in our region, and we are still experiencing it, especially  regarding Long Covid disability and its repercussions on our economy. The past three  years have emphasized the importance of working locally to make a difference. I care  deeply about my neighbors, community, and local businesses – our village. I am  stepping up at this critical juncture to help us progress successfully.  

I am an expert grant writer, financial manager, and strategic planner; in the past seven  years, I raised $30 million for scientific research, overcoming obstacles to submitting  grants and meeting with funders. I want to do this for Forest Park, helping identify new  collaboration opportunities for multiyear funding sources.  

In my field, metrics are commonplace. I want to measure the effect of these efforts on  the bottom line – are these efforts generating revenue for budgeted expenses? Priority  items? Multiyear items? Are my efforts affecting public safety pensions? Quantifying the  effect is important; how many grants are submitted, dollar amount awarded,  partnerships involved, and impact on our village and residents.

2) How do you make decisions? 

Whenever I start a new role, I ask myself, who am I ultimately accountable to? Who do I  work for? I started to ask myself this question at my first job in Chicago when I worked at  a children’s hospital. Who did I work for? Our patients and their families. And I act and  make decisions from that. As an elected commissioner, I would answer this question only  one way – I work for the people of Forest Park.  

I am also a process/systems-oriented person, so I research and analyze my work and set  up systems to help me work successfully. If I am elected, I would want to establish  systems to analyze and research information I need to make decisions, seek input, and  collaborate with staff and the council to be successful, based on the department I will be  working with. Once I know the department I work with, I set up criteria for decisions that I  evaluate to help me be consistent and effective in approaching my work. (I’m flexible, but  I start with a set of questions and go from there.)

3) What are the three biggest challenges or opportunities facing Forest Park in the next three, five, and ten years and how should elected officials address them over the next four years? 

Our public safety pension debt is a 10-year challenge that needs to be addressed in  the next four years, and it’s why I’m in this race. It’s an issue that was kicked down  the road before Mayor Hoskins came into office. I’m up to the challenge to help  significantly fund our operations, personnel, and major projects to address this $60+ 

million debt. 

Our near-term opportunities and challenges in the next 3-5 years include preparing  for the economic and disability changes manifesting from COVID-19. We are seeing  it now with increased mental health needs and the impact of Long Covid. Our  community can network with Proviso Township to be prepared for more people  working locally, new business models, and the impact on planning for 5-10 years as  the focus moves to municipalities and regions.  

Equally as important are investments in green infrastructure and technology to  address climate change, as well as investments in technological infrastructure (HI  speed internet). 

4) How would you approach the budgeting process? 

Budgets are a reflection of the priorities of an organization; it is also a reflection of  established legal agreements, contracts, and statutes. The budget is the management  tool the village uses to allocate funds to departments and their activities.  

If I am elected as a commissioner, I will work as a partner to contribute my knowledge  and expertise to the budget process. I am committed to providing information to Forest  Park residents who would like information about the budget or the budgeting process and  would partner with village staff to provide information about this process to village  residents.

5) What would you say to voters who are worried about the tax burden? 

We are experiencing a pivotal time in our economy where residents are concerned about  taxes, especially property taxes. I completely understand. The village can’t directly affect  how homes are assessed (that’s a different government office). Still, we can be aware of  other costs that village residents face and provide information to residents about how to manage tax payments and assessments. 

This year I have been disseminating information and resources to Forest Park residents  about Cook County programs to help individuals impacted by COVID-19 with house  payments, as well as regular programs to assist with property tax appeals and other  services, like heating and cooling bill relief. Ensuring residents hear about this help and  can access it is an important part of being a commissioner. I have benefited from it myself  and want to ensure others do too.

6) What should the Village Commission's role be with respect to economic development and attracting new business to Forest Park? 

Increasing economic development and new business to Forest Park is vital for the  Village Council to participate in. With the election of our new Village Council, it is  important to update our Village Strategic plan, to examine what has changed in  Forest Park in the last 20 years, and how we need to plan for the future, what zoning  laws and planning we need to do for the next decade and how that will help us  prepare and move forward as a team for business and economic development. Our  elected officials, professional village staff, planning staff, and village residents can all  participate in mapping this future as we identify and attract the economic  development we need to succeed.

7) The Altenheim property and future development alternatives are topics of much discussion in Forest Park. What should the next step in this process be, and what is your ultimate vision for the property?

The Altenheim citizen’s commission has done great work reviewing the agreement with  the village, potential land uses, hearing from groups and experts, and reviewing the  property's history. I value their work and want to honor their full recommendations once  they report. I also value the village's agreements with the State when it received the  grant to tear down the buildings and with the Altenheim community. I’m glad the village  had a process where residents (including the Grove residents) could attend the  committee meetings to hear how this process proceeded. This process also included a  survey of resident ideas at the very beginning.  

My ultimate vision is to see what ideas come from this process. I’m agnostic. I’ve had  some sense that this would remain partially green space and some part developed. I’m  open to how that is conceived, and I’d like to see what this committee comes up with.

8) The debate over video gambling has been resolved through binding referendum, yet there are still significant divisions over the issue. Do you think those divisions can be overcome? If so, how? If not, why not? Would you now seek to repeal the prohibition on video gambling in Forest Park? If so, how? If not, why not? 

The residents of the village voted on this question in a binding referendum. I support the  will of the voters of Forest Park. I seek to become a commissioner because there are  many lucrative ways to bring revenue to Forest Park. As a village, we need to pursue  multiple avenues without taxing those who can least afford it. I will be a part of that  solution by writing federal, state and private grants for projects we need to fund to cover  real, multiyear expenses. 

9) How can local governments ensure that Black Lives matter? What actions can and should be taken?

Our local government needs to help ensure that Black lives are respected, safe  and valued in our society, and within its ranks, that it reflects to its residents the  staff/representation of BIPOC members to value equity and increase participation.  

In the past four years, our Mayor and village have appointed Black  

representatives to several commissions and boards on the village level and hired  key BIPOC staff. Our Mayor and many Forest Park residents were a driving force  in the Illinois state holiday for Juneteenth.  

Government can increase Black homeownership, innovation, and business  startups, opportunities to participate in new workforce training programs and referrals for employment. 

10) Commissioners are elected “at large”. How will you represent the views of all Forest Parkers?

I will communicate, be available to answer questions, and do my very best work on behalf of Forest Park residents. I’ll be open and honest, and you’ll see me at Ed’s  Way, Kribi Coffee, The Brown Cow, Goldy Burger, Circle Bowling or Twisted Cookie and  we can discuss what’s on your mind. At the end of the day, everyone I meet wants the  best for Forest Park, and I like learning from every resident I meet what that means for  them. I won’t always make folks happy, but I will always do my best for Forest Park and  be respectful, fair, and open with everyone.

11) What does transparency in government mean to you? Give one example of an action you would take as Commissioner, or have taken during your time as Commissioner, for those seeking re-election, reflecting your views on this topic. How would you evaluate the Village’s record on transparency?

I helped organize an International Women’s Day fundraiser for three Forest Park non profits with a committee of volunteers; all women and women-identified (LGBTQ)  businesses, non-profit leaders and civic leaders were celebrated; everyone was  invited to attend. I was the fiscal sponsor, and we raised $1500 for the three Forest  Park non-profits. The event was featured on the cover of the FPR, and we distributed  the checks within 10 days. (I posted the amount raised on Facebook the same day  the Forest Park Review came out – I had expected the amount raised to be in the  caption, and it was not).  

The Village of Forest Park posts its zoom recording on the village hall website, and its meeting packets and minutes are available beforehand for each meeting. Financials  are available on the village website for the last seven years. I have used the village  website for many years, and I like the new services and functions they have added to  increase transparency. The Village has improved greatly in the past four years  regarding service, accessibility, and transparency, and while I think there’s always  more to do, I like that it is top of mind.

12) What are the appropriate limits to a nepotism policy that would prevent the appearance of favoritism while not unduly hindering the ability of local government to work with those who already have an existing relationship with government stakeholders? 

Policies and procedures that are uniformly applied that ensure hiring, contracting, and  other decisions are conducted by government bodies at arm’s length that can be  audited or evaluated by a third party as having followed a process are fair to me.  

13) What steps will you take, or have you taken, to enhance community engagement with the Village and the Village Commission? What is your view on how local elected officials should communicate with and respond to constituents?

I have already started to hold “Michelle on Madison” events - times when Forest Park  residents can hang out with me to talk and ask questions. I would continue to hold  these regularly, not just on Madison, but anywhere around town, to be available to  residents in the community at convenient times and locations. My view is that I am a  representative of the village. Since my campaign started in October of 2022, I have  been out in the community meeting residents to hear their questions and interests to  best communicate with the community. 

14) In what ways have you sought to better know and understand the experiences, concerns, and needs of residents outside your demographic group? 

I participate in social action movements, volunteer activities, group experiences, and community organizations that reflect the needs of our  community but where I am not in the majority. I listen, reflect, participate and  engage to grow and improve.  

I support the Scouts, the D91 PTO, our Forest Park Public Library, the Forest  Park Art Alliance, the Forest Park Garden Club, the Historical Society of  Forest Park, and 209Scholarship to engage with the Proviso and Forest Park  community. I listen and learn from seniors, families, youth and people of all  races and gender identities to expand my perspectives and experiences. Our  west Cook area is talented and vibrant, and maximizing inclusivity increases  our success as a village and a region. 

15) Much is made of how long one has lived in Forest Park as a marker of legitimacy in its local government. This can serve to delegitimize the large number of people who have recently moved here, especially those who are renting. How will you work to get the perspectives of and involvement from newly arrived Forest Parkers and especially renters in the village? 

I find that Forest Park's culture welcomes new residents, overly so – we love to find  new people who move to Forest Park and show them around. Our local government  reflects our village and the pride we take in our town, so I’d like to bring that same  enthusiasm to Village Hall if selected by the voters to serve.  

I would want to ask renters and new residents what is most meaningful to them in  terms of engagement, so to do that, finding events that these groups are most likely to  attend is one avenue, as well as surveying them through the water bill perhaps is a  place to start, and then following up to use the data collected.

16) What are your thoughts on the appropriate limits on candidates/officeholders weighing in on the actions of a different taxing body? 

Candidates and officeholders can highlight the work of another taxing body and draw  light to problems that the work of that taxing body may not be addressing. The  candidates and office holders should be aware of their mandate to their office and the  reason they were elected (not spend an excessive amount of time on that issue), but if  they highlight the needs that represent their residents and create change that benefits  their office and ultimately why they were meant to serve, it makes sense.  

17) What do you see as the best role for Forest Park’s Commissions, especially the Diversity Commission? What challenges do you anticipate with regard to equity and inclusion in the Village, and how will you approach them? 

I will proactively encourage and voice the need for equity and inclusion in village work and encourage participation from a wide range of village residents on village  commissions. As I understand it, the mechanism for follow-through may not have been  in place for some commissions' activities, so that will need to be addressed, and I  would make sure to have that in place. I feel there is a more welcoming presence in the  village, and I will ensure that my activities and approach encourage this. 

18) The Village Council has an arguably mixed record on climate action. For example, they have voted against pursuing a Metropolitan Water Reclamation District grant that would capture stormwater yet voted to bring in electric car-charging stations. How would you act to ensure policy reflected climate change locally, including residents impacted by water/sewer backup into homes? 

I would identify items that are climate related and prioritize them.  

19) Please list the three largest donors to your campaign by dollar amount contributed. 

My campaign started October 5, 2022 

• Michelle Melin-Rogovin $6,500 

• Cardinal Advancement Services, LLC (In-Kind) $3,500 

• JW Landscapes, LLC (In-Kind) $1,500