Brookfield needs village trustees who are involved, knowledgeable and ready to make critical decisions to help Brookfield emerge from a rough economic era and take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves.
While the economic recovery proceeds slowly, there are signs of life on Ogden Avenue. Brookfield has completed major internal improvements and the village board and village staff ought to be prepared to start directing their focus outward.
For that reason, we feel that the three candidates best prepared to help make that transition are Michael Garvey, Nicole Gilhooley and Brian Oberhauser.
After eight years as village president, Garvey will be able to act as a leader among trustees immediately, lending his experience and voice to the debate on how best to achieve development goals on Ogden and elsewhere and make sure the staff stays focused on the task at hand.
We believe he will be able to work well, despite leaving the president’s chair, with whoever is elected village president. He has served as a trustee previously and displayed professionalism and dedication in that role.
Gilhooley has been an important member of a village committee that produced results. She already has been learning how things work at the village board level, and her background in problem solving and communication will be assets on the board.
For those wanting Brookfield to engage more closely with Brookfield Zoo — though we have our doubts about the prospect of the village ever having the kind of relationship many residents believe is possible from an economic standpoint — Gilhooley has achieved some measure of that. Her work with the Beautification Commission has led her to partner with zoo officials and work closely with them.
Oberhauser for the past four years has shown that he has the ability to ask questions and understands the need for the village board to begin to assert true leadership on economic development.
While he has given glimpses of taking a more active role at the board table, we hope in the next four years he actively seeks to provide that input and promote healthy debate among his fellow board members.
