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?

 Being resident for my entire life, my motivation is to serve this community. Having served as a Village Trustee for 8 years I bring experience to this position.  I have previously served under four Mayor’s as Chair of the Civil Service Board, President of the Zoning Board, the Future Planning Committee, Chair of the Finance Committee. In my private life I was the Assistant Store Manager for Broadview Kmart, responsible for 500 employees, sales manager of retail operations and oversaw over 200 people. Being responsible for Budgets and financial decisions in other positions.

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

In any management position you balance competing interests. I use a Team approach, Active Listening Skills and goal identification. I have learned that all the members of the community have a contribution and are what makes this village Great.

3. What does transparency in government mean to you? How would you put it into practice? Do you believe the Village of Broadview operates in a transparent manner?

Transparency in government means that residents know what is happening and how decisions are made.  Currently, we televise our meetings, offer robocalls to inform residents of current actions and activities. Our administration emails resident’s information regularly.

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?

Offering a variety of communication avenues – social media, print media, emails, phone, in person meetings, letters – will allow elected officials to reach all residents.

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

Some residents may not be fully aware of how to contact officials and as a result I reach out to residents when I do walks through out the village to talk with residents face to face (while keeping socially distant).  Our administration has been doing this regularly. Keeping an open door policy is important in this day and age.

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

The three biggest issues facing Broadview today are

1. frivolous lawsuits filed by various Trustees which has caused many payouts.  The lawsuits by board members versus the former mayor and now they are on the same ticket.,

2. all the taxing bodies need to work collaboratively as has been seen by the situation generated by the pandemic and

3. maintain the balance of our community as our village has always done.  Balancing Residents, Commercial Development and Corporate investment to grow our community is what we all need to do.

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

Equity means that all residents have equal opportunity and access.  I have always worked at ensuring everyone has equal opportunity.

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?

As I walk the village talking to residents, I have asked that very question, and I have found that many methods are required and I am planning on utilizing the various methods. Communication is paramount. Encouraging residents to join with our meetings, write, call and use social media as well.

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

An influential Broadview community member is the Mayor and our current Mayor Thompson has a vision for Broadview that will enhance our Village.  We have always been a Balanced Community and we will continue Balancing the needs of the residents with progress.  I have been instrumental in seeing that many of the progressive businesses have opened here in Broadview. I plan on continuing to encourage all types of business that offer opportunities for all our residents.

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

Climate change is affected in all types of ways and hopefully in the future we can utilize more solar energy, electric vehicles, and clean air options. At the present I have worked, along with the administration, on the eco-friendly alley ways currently being paved in the village. Green Alley project using recycled products to prevent and reduce flooding.  We all need to do our part to work on reducing the effects of climate change.

11. What do you see as the most pressing issue relating to housing in Broadview? 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?

We offer excellent homes here in Broadview and continue that with adherence to our Building Regulations. Working in partnership building Senior housing we have the Senior Housing Project that started under Katrina Thompson and I fully supported, and an affordable housing opportunity for transitioning adults will provide options for many.  As we maintain our current standards all resident’s benefit.

12. In recent months there have been calls in many communities to defund the police or reimagine public safety. How do you define public safety? Do you begin from the premise that increased policing is the most effective response to increased crime, or would you propose other solutions?  

Our Police Department utilizes all methods of defusing situations, working to maintain peace and law and order.  Our officers continue to take classes and offer programs to communicate with residents.

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?

The recent rise in carjacking is very likely an effect of the pandemic. Reminding people to not leave cars unlocked, exercise care while driving and parking, use safety methods at gas stations and fast food places.

14. What is your development vision for Roosevelt Road? What form do you feel development should take there? How would you confront the parking situation?  

Part of our overall development plan on Roosevelt is to increase commercial and residential sites. Our Economic Development Director working in conjunction with the Mayor and Trustees is seeking new businesses to offer variety to our village. 

15. Do you believe there is room for a human-scale development approach in Broadview? Why or why not? 

Human-scale development approach satisfies fundamental human needs, generating self-reliance and offering opportunities for people to grow with the new businesses we are bringing to the village.

16. How would you evaluate the success of Broadview’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?  

Covid-19 testing continues in the village, employees are checked regularly and tracking methods are utilized.

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

It is obvious that revenues are down as a result of the pandemic, people have not been spending in the same manner so sales taxes are down and residential taxes are also less. As a result we have revised our Budget and like anybody at this time cut back expenditures where we have.

18. Do you believe the Village of Broadview is financially healthy? Do you feel the current Village budget is balanced? What is your approach to fiscal transparency? 

Our current Budget is balanced and we are monitoring expenses carefully

19. As an elected official, do you believe you have a responsibility to speak out about private labor practices? If so, how do you balance that responsibility with the tax benefits larger corporate operations may bring to the Broadview community? 

As an elected official we have many responsibilities. As a person we have many responsibilities. We need to work on those issues and improve or village for everyone. As an individual who has worked in many roles in corporate America, from worker to management, I also believe we need to be fully aware of labor practices.

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[The above answers were supplied on 3/19/21.]