Oswego Village President Ryan Kauffman has recommended the appointment of Thomas Collins to fill a vacancy on the Village Board created when newly-elected Trustee Luis Perez resigned from the board to accept an out-of-state job.
“Tom has lived in Oswego for 17 years and has demonstrated his commitment to our community by serving as a trustee for the Grundy/Kendall Regional Board of Education and his homeowners association’s board, as well as volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America and American Legion Post 675,” Kauffman said in a news release.
Kauffman touted Collins’ professional experience and project management skills in the information technology profession.
He will “bring a fresh perspective to the board,” Kauffman said.
The Village Board will vote Tuesday on the village president’s recommendation.
Perez announced in May he would be leaving Oswego early this summer to begin a position with K-VA-T Food Stores.
“For those of us up here, they are like the Meijer of the south. It is now an enterprise affiliated with Ace Hardware Corporation,” he said.
Perez has been in corporate market development for Ace Hardware. Perez said he will lead operations and new business development for K-VA-T Food Stores on behalf of Ace Hardware Corporation.
Perez was originally appointed to the Village Board in October 2015. He was elected to a four-year term in 2017 and served until 2021, when he was defeated in a bid for re-election.
After being away from the board for two years, Perez was once again elected as a trustee in April and sworn-in with the rest of the new board members May 2.
He was one of three trustees elected in the April 4 municipal election.
If appointed, Collins will serve until the 2025 election.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.