Activist Toolkit

1. What motivates you to seek this office? What skills, experiences, and perspectives would you bring, and why would those contributions be valuable in the office you are seeking?

2. When in the past have you had to balance competing interests? What process did you use? What did you learn?  

3. What does transparency in government mean to you? How would you put it into practice? Do you feel the Village’s online resources and communication are sufficient?

4. As more of our local discourse happens in social media, what is your view on how local elected officials should communicate with and respond to constituents? How will you engage with the breadth of the community, and not only those on social media?

5. What barriers do you see for community members who wish to engage with Bellwood’s village government? How would you work to reduce or eliminate those barriers?  

6. What do you feel are the three biggest issues facing Bellwood, and how do you intend to address them? 

7. How do you define equity? Have recent events and discussions in the larger community informed or changed your thinking? 

8. How do you plan to solicit feedback from people who may be experiencing this community in a different way than you? What barriers do you believe may exist in this process?

9. Name an influential Bellwood community member. How did this person’s influence change Bellwood? As an elected official, what do you imagine your influence will be on the community?

10. What impact can a municipality such as Bellwood have on climate change, and how will you prioritize that work among other issues?

11. What do you see as the most pressing issue relating to housing in Bellwood? What policies would you advocate to address this issue? Do you consider support for affordable housing to be a core function of our village government? Why or why not?

12. Increasing crime has been of great concern to Bellwood residents. Do you see crime as a public safety issue or a public health issue? Do you begin from the premise that increased policing is the most effective response to increased crime, or would you propose other solutions? In your view, what is the best way forward?

13. What do you believe has caused the recent swell in carjackings in the surrounding area? Do you see an appropriate law enforcement response to this situation?

14. The Village has been involved in homebuilding in an effort to create larger units to complement Bellwood’s housing stock. What do you feel is the appropriate role for the Village when it comes to residential development? Do you think recent policies have been successful? 

15. How would you evaluate the success of Bellwood’s plans for Covid-19 mitigation at the Village? Do you feel the Village has adequately protected its employees, and that there has been adequate transparency with respect to case tracking?  

16. How do you believe the Covid-19 pandemic has affected Bellwood’s Village finances, and what policies do you favor going forward as part of the recovery? 

17. In recent years Bellwood has very rarely increased its tax levy. Do you feel this been the right approach for this community? Under what circumstances would you consider calling for a levy increase?

18. What is your plan for ensuring that the Addison Street Reservoir project is on track? What is your understanding of Bellwood’s role in that project?