Eight vie for four spots on Glen Ellyn park board

Several Glen Ellyn residents who were active in trying to save trees at Ackerman Park last year have filed to run as park district board candidates.

Melissa Creech, Julia Nephew and Jay "Gordon" Kinzler are running as a slate in the April 7 election. Creech said she discovered bigger problems on the park board after she started attending meetings to save 340 trees at the park that were scheduled to be cut down for a stormwater project.

Jeff Dickson, who has been involved in the district's soccer programs, also is running against four incumbents: Jeff Jourdan, Keith Schoen, Bill Taylor and Ron Aubrey.

The incumbents say the eagerness of the new candidates to fill the four spots proves the town has very civic-minded residents.

"One of the things in Glen Ellyn is that there's just a lot of people who care," Aubrey said. "They really like to get involved and do something, and I'm thrilled about that."

Creech, Nephew and Kinzler said they are going to be concentrating on budgetary issues and the way the park board communicates with the public.

"Our main platform is fiscal responsibility and openness," Nephew said. "We really want to continue the wonderful programs the park district has and make sure the economic situation doesn't stop them."

The group said they'd also like to see more park documents on the Web site and to have meetings broadcast on television or the Internet.

Jourdan, who has been on the board for four years, agreed with his fellow incumbents that the main priority is to finish the projects that have been started, such as the Ackerman Park Sports Complex and improvements taking place at Maryknoll Park.

"I think the board's done a great job," Jourdan said. "There are seven great people on the board; we work well together."

Schoen, who has been a board member for 20 years, said he feels his service to the community hasn't come to an end.

"I'd like to see some things finish out," he said.

Taylor, a board member for one term, said he's also eager to finish up the safety village at Maryknoll.

"Over the last four years, we've really completed some significant projects," Taylor said.

Aubrey, a five-year member of the board, said the commissioners have a history of working together and making sound decisions.

With the Ackerman Park issue, for example, Aubrey said it would have been hard to please everybody interested in the project.

"One of the biggest challenges as a board member is to base your decision on fact, not opinion," he said.

Dickson said his concentration will be to make sure the district provides programs the community is asking for and needs.

"I want to make sure we utilize our space for the good of the community," he said.

He said he's also big on pushing for communication within the groups that make up Glen Ellyn, such as the school districts and village.