The Riverside-Brookfield Landmark sent questionnaires to each person running for public office in 2023. The Landmark’s questions are in bold and the candidate’s responses are below.
Name: Courtney Greve Hack
Age: 45
Previous Political Experience: Riverside Library Board Trustee since 2016
Previous/Current Community Involvement: Riverside Community Garden Volunteer & Co-Compost Manager
Occupation: Vice President, Res Publica Group
Education: Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Journalism, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
1. Why are you running for the Riverside Public Library board?
As an avid reader, libraries have always held a special place in my heart. Beyond books, the Riverside Public Library is particularly wonderful because of its architecture, historic status and unofficial role as our community center. It’s one of the first places I visited upon moving to Riverside and I quickly felt at home.
Library trustees are entrusted with maintaining and enhancing both the primary purpose of the library – to promote lifelong learning and discovery through diverse resources, enrichment opportunities and cooperative partnerships – and the library itself through projects like the lower level renovation, masonry repairs and the new HVAC system. We as a board have accomplished much in recent years and demonstrated good stewardship. I am running for re-election because I believe I can continue to contribute to the success of this vital resource.
2. What experience and perspectives would you bring to the position and how would they be valuable as an elected official?
As a communications and marketing professional, I bring a range of soft and hard skills to the library that have proven useful, such as problem solving, message development, promotional strategy and critical thinking. I also have a deep understanding of the property tax system due to my time as a reporter and as communications director for the Cook County Clerk. As a parent, I have advocated for robust programming and services at the library for the children of our community. Finally, I strongly believe in our library’s vision statement, and I will continue to priortize fosting an environment that is welcoming to all.
3. What do you believe are some of the greatest challenges facing the library?
The single greatest challenge facing our library (and libraries around the country) is the attempt to ban books. As many in this community know, such an attempt was made by two Riverside residents earlier this year and I am proud of the library board for our unanimous decision to keep the title, “Gender Queer.” Book banning is a form of censorship and it’s a very slipperly slope. I stand firmly against censorship of any kind in our library.
