Courtesy Ben Sells, Candidate for Riverside Village President
Riverside 2013, a new political party, is running candidates for Riverside Village President and Village Board of Trustees in the April 9, 2013, election. Current Village Trustee Ben Sells is running for Village President, and Patricia Julian Collins, Ellen Hamilton, and Doug Pollock are running for Village Board of Trustees.
“I believe Riverside deserves a government that represents the cooperative spirit and optimism of our residents,” said Sells. “We need leaders who are focused on taking care of our Village, who listen to and encourage new ideas and innovation, and who can bring people together in common cause.”
Sells is a 25 year resident of Riverside. He is a small business owner and former practicing attorney, and holds an M.A. in Philosophical Psychology from Southern Methodist University. He served on the Blythe Park PTA and the Village’s Preservation Commission before being elected Village Trustee in 2007. He also co-founded the Riverside Friends of the Fourth and Riverside Springs Ahead volunteer groups, and was a leader of the referendum drive to save the Riverside Parks and Recreation Board.
Sells says that ensuring Riverside’s long-term health and improving its business districts would be priorities of his administration. “We must take care of our Village,” says Sells. “Our home values and our local businesses depend upon a safe, well-maintained, and attractive community with beautiful parks, active recreation, a vibrant downtown, and high quality, cost effective services.”
Julian Collins is a 20 year resident of Riverside. She holds an M.B.A. from Illinois State University and has a strong background in finance and human resources. “Serving the community is an important part of my life,” says Collins. “Whether working at a hospital, helping people in need, or volunteering at school, I want my children to know how much better life is when we all work together.” Patricia and her husband Dave have two children who attended Blythe Park and Hauser.
Hamilton is a 27 year resident of Riverside. She holds an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Chicago and retired as Director of Real Estate for the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2011. She serves as a Deacon at Riverside Presbyterian Church. “Our future depends on creating a welcoming ambiance for new families and planning for a strong, sustainable community,” says Hamilton.
Pollock is a 16 year resident of Riverside. He has a Master of Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati and has worked as a city planner in municipal government for almost 30 years. He has served Riverside on the Little League Board, the Plan Commission, and Long Term Finance Committee. “There is no better place for raising a family than Riverside. I would be honored to serve and I would strive for a Village government that is efficient, respectful, and optimistic.” Doug and his wife Jennifer have three children who attend Central, Hauser, and RBHS.
