The two candidates running for Palos Park mayor have differentiated themselves as a seasoned board member and a candidate with a new vision. Both say they want to increase community engagement, but have different approaches.
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Village Board member Nicole Milovich-Walters, a lifelong resident and an attorney, and attorney Ronette McCarthy, who is on the board of The McCord Gallery and Cultural Center in Palos Park and in the Palos Park Women’s Club, are seeking to replace Mayor John Mahoney, who isn’t seeking reelection.
Milovich-Walters said she’d like to establish a welcome committee made up of community members to help get the word about businesses, events and organizations. The committee would make brochures with information and talk with residents, particularly new residents, to engage them with the community.
“One of the things that over the years has been challenging is reaching out to people and asking people to get involved, whether it be a board the meets once a month … a lot of people aren’t ready to donate their time that way,” Milovich-Walters said. “It does make it challenging, but I think if we engage people from the get-go they’ll be more willing to say ‘yeah, I’d love to be a part of that.'”
McCarthy said about half the village’s boards and committees have vacancies, which she’d like to fill by reaching out to residents.
“We really want all residents to have a voice. We want them to feel part of our government. That is democracy,” McCarthy said.
“I’ve spent 16 years learning, being mentored, and I feel like we’ve done so many great things for the village. I really just want to see some of these projects through to the other side, continue the great stuff that we’ve been doing,” Milovich-Walters said.
For example, she said she’d like to continue work on extending infrastructure to the annexed area of Cog Hill Golf and Country Club and land west of Bell Road.
“That is a big area where we may be able to have some economic development that will then support the village doing more projects and more events and more things, because we’ll have development out there near Bell Road,” Milovich-Walters said.
She also said she’d continue supporting the Police Department’s foundation, made up of residents who raise money for training and equipment, and looking for ways to expand that idea. For example, starting a recreation department foundation to help bolster funds since the department isn’t a park district, which means it does not receive property tax dollars, she said.
The village is in phase two of a $3 million, three-year road program, Milovich-Walters said, which she’d like to see through.
In the 1980s, when sewer and water were brought to the village, all the roads were redone at the same time and paid for through a bond, Milovich-Walters said. Now, the village’s roads will be repaired in sections and paid for by the village’s three cent per gallon gas tax, she said.
“To be able to come up with these kind of moneys to then perpetually be able to have a large sum to create a road program every year solves this problem that we have been fighting against for years,” Milovich-Walters said.
McCarthy said over the last eight years community members have asked her to run for mayor, but her children were in elementary school. Now that her children are more independent, she said the time was right.
“Now is the time for change. I really feel that 16-plus years in elected office is too long. There needs to be turn over within our community for fresh ideas, fresh perspectives and really moving Palos Park toward the future,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy said she would complete a 100-day review of the village, including public safety, economic development and the budget.
Public safety is a top priority, McCarthy said, as a number of residents have told her they are buying ring cameras to monitor their homes. As part of the 100-day review, McCarthy said she’d research if the Police Department can hire more full-time officers.
“It’s something that needs to be addressed and just reviewed. We have an amazing police chief. They do great with what we have,” McCarthy said.
There are a number of vacant stores near the Jewel-Osco, a prominent spot in the community, McCarthy said. She’d like to establish an economic development plan to entice local and larger businesses to open there.
“That is a significant conversation that has to be had because it doesn’t do anyone any good if those spaces sit vacant. It doesn’t look good. It doesn’t contribute to the community. The community can’t contribute to it,” McCarthy said.
Palos Park is nestled in 11,000 acres of forest preserves, Milovich-Walters said, and “her heart is in green space.” The village has partnered with the Cook County Forest Preserve district to hold events such as fishing derbies and concerts to help residents connect with the open spaces, she said.
The village has one of the toughest ordinances for tree removal during construction. If trees are removed, Milovich-Walters said the village has a tree bank, where the owner of the project pays a fee for the tree removal and officials use that money to plant trees in other parts of the village.
The residents in Palos Park are knowledgeable about green space, animals and environmental issues, McCarthy said, so she’d like to help residents connect with each other if they have questions.
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McCarthy said she believes in one-acre lots. The plan for the western expansion of the village allows for 12 units per acre, which McCarthy said she disagrees with.
“My belief is what makes our community is the green space, the one acres, being surrounded by the forest preserve. I would like to see that going forward, being maintained as it is,” McCarthy said.