Six candidates are competing for three available seats on the Wilmette Park District Board in the April 1 Cook County consolidated election.
One of the issues the Board is facing is hiring a new executive director after Board members decided not to renew the contract of Steve Wilson, who resigned in January, per previous reporting. The Board has hired an interim director, Margaret Resnick, while it searches for a permanent director.
That was one of several topics the six candidates — three incumbents and three newcomers — discussed at a League of Women Voters candidate forum March 1 at Wilmette Village Hall. They also addressed fees, funds and real estate.
Nancy Johnson, who has not previously served on the Board, said she believed it was a mistake for the Board to purchase the Beth Hillel Bnai Emunah synagogue’s property at 3220 Big Tree Lane for $5.4 million.
“As a realtor, I would have advised not to buy it, because it’s too close to the expressway, it’s very noisy, the building is very old,” Johnson said. “I don’t know what the board had in mind for
it.”
Park Board Vice President Patrick Duffy, who is running for reelection, defended that purchase.
“The board decided to purchase Beth Hillel because we live in a mature community,” Duffy said. “The opportunity to purchase a large parcel of land for the benefit of the community in perpetuity was very desirable. The cost today may seem high but down the road it may seem like a deal. As far as the use, we have no idea what we are going to use that site for. The
community will dictate to us how we use that site.”
Commissioner Allison Frazier, who is also running for reelection, added that because the police department will likely use that facility during the construction of a new police station, “This
gives us time to be thoughtful and to thoroughly engage to come to the right solution for all residents.”
Park Board President Kara Kosloskus, also running for reelection, noted, “This parcel became available to us right on the heels of completing the strategic plan, which incorporated
feedback. One of the strategic items was to consider the purchase of any parcel of property over one acre for better serving the community in the future.”
Candidate Anastasia Royal focused on another issue, declaring that the entire park board should resign because, “A line has been crossed. This past summer, I spoke out against the Wilmette Park District’s management in flagrant disregard of our community.”
When asked what qualities a person that the board hires as the new director should have, Royal chose to talk about what qualities they shouldn’t have, explaining about the line she said was crossed.
Her criteria for hiring new management would include “Not hiring a volunteer who has admitted to looking at child erotica on Park District equipment,” Royal said. “Turning a blind eye to that and letting him be a volunteer and letting him be at the block party. As a mother and a grandmother, I find this unacceptable and I think each member of the Park Board should step down.”
The other candidates did not respond to to Royal’s remark.
Other issues addressed by the candidates included the fencing of Gillson Park Beach, park district fees, and where funds should be allocated in terms of facilities and programs.
Paul McKinley, the sixth candidate vying for one of the three available openings on the park board, declared in his opening statement, “I think all decisions should be made using survey
results and feedback.” The other candidates echoed this sentiment throughout the forum.
