The RB Landmark sent questionnaires to each person running for public office in 2025. The Landmark’s questions are in bold and the candidate’s responses are below.
Political experience
I have been an elected Village Trustee for four years and prior to that I was a volunteer appointed Commissioner on the Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning and Zoning Commission since 2007.
Community experience
I’ve lived in Brookfield since 2005, engaging with my neighbors and volunteering throughout the community. Whether it’s supporting my family at Brook Park, SE Gross, or RB, laughing and helping with the Brookfield Women’s Club, singing and working with a local arts organization, or learning with the Citizen’s Police Academy, I never cease to be amazed by our dedicated, energetic, caring residents in Brookfield.
What kind of residential development would you like to see in Brookfield’s future? Is the current focus on transit-oriented development working?
Residential development should be considerate of its neighbors, activate the space and bring energy to its neighborhood. I believe that transit-oriented development is beneficial to our village. It encourages investment in properties that may have fallen into disrepair. It increases density of residents near downtown areas. When business is siphoned away by online retailers and many downtown areas are declining, this is an especially critical time to be be bringing people closer to our commercial centers. Additional foot traffic from transit-oriented development energizes our downtown area while supporting local businesses and walkable neighborhoods, and we can see the success of this in new businesses along Grand and Prairie.
How do you perceive Brookfield has changed over the past 15 years? What specific things has the village done that led to these changes?
I feel like in the last 15 years I’ve watched Brookfield enter a bit of a renaissance. Properties and storefronts that had felt forgotten have seen new investment. New businesses are opening and existing businesses are flourishing with people from all over beginning to see Brookfield as a destination. Our events and recreation programs have grown by leaps and bounds. Communication and responsiveness have never been better. I credit much of that to the Board’s emphasis on professionalism and high standards in staffing. Village Hall is now full of motivated people who are eager to innovate, rethink ideas that aren’t working for us, and grow programs that are working all while making responsible financial choices.
What nearby communities do you compare Brookfield to? Lyons? Stickney? Riverside? LaGrange? LaGrange Park? Why?
I think Brookfield is one-of-a-kind. We’re in a great location and have unique and celebrated natural spaces and local assets like Salt Creek and of course the Brookfield Zoo. But most important of all, our engaged, involved, and supportive community members are unparalleled. Who else has groups like Cycle Brookfield and the Brookfield Arts League, residents who volunteer in droves for Covid vaccine clinics and charity duck races, business owners who find new ways to feed the needy, and neighbors who donate to fund a new library or offer support when someone falls ill? There’s no place I’d rather be than this wonderful, caring village.
What is the biggest challenge facing Brookfield?
Ogden Avenue as a corridor has been a challenge for a long time. With many property owners and regulatory agencies to contend with, change comes slowly. Our community worked together on actionable plans to make Ogden more welcoming and less of a barrier and those plans are progressing. The challenge is to keep all the moving parts engaged to make more visible progress.
As a member of the village board, how will you respond to Trump-administration policies at the local level?
We’re closely monitoring the risk to federal grant funding for our street and water system projects during this chaotic time and we will continue to seek out funding available to us at all levels. I value integrity, respect, sustainability, responsibility, and professionalism and will always choose policies that protect human dignity. The occupant of the White House will not change my values or principles. I intend to continue working for the best interests of our entire community.