Susan Stillwell: 2025 candidate for Sugar Grove village president

Bio

Office sought: Sugar Grove village president

City: Sugar Grove

Age: 42

Occupation: Registered nurse and title examiner

Previous offices held: None

Why are you running for this office? Is there a particular issue that motivates you? Also, what makes you the best candidate for the position?

I am running for village president because I would like to see the resources in our village including financial and natural used wisely. I am a minimalist when it comes to spending in my personal life and I would like to apply a great deal of thought and care into expenditures.

I would like to increase the number of native plants for the health of our community and I would like to bring peace to a village that has been very divided over the last four years.

Many people that live here have expressed disapproval over the Grove/Crown development, the contract terms and the TIF and have felt that the current administration did not listen.

Many of us felt that the current administration prioritized the interest and profits of the developer over the expressed wishes of residents. I would like to be a village president that listens to all residents and advocates for them.

What is the most serious issue your community will face in coming years and how should leaders respond to it?

I think that a recession is a very real possibility in the next two years and I am concerned about overspending by the current administration. There are multiple projects with planned use of bond funds including a $10 million village hall after the current village administration building was sold to an investor at a loss. I think more should be done to reduce spending and prepare for an economic downturn.

How would you describe the state of your community's finances? What should be the top priorities for spending during the next few years? Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed?

I am concerned about the sale of current village buildings, the most important of which was the village administration building. Selling the building at a loss to then rent the space and use bond funds for a $10 million village hall is not something that makes financial sense. It is concerning.

There seems to be a pattern of overspending and projects with planned use of bond funds that I would like to change. I would be focused on spending on needs, saving taxpayer funds and I would encourage trustees to be mindful with spending as well. Together as a team we could cut out unnecessary spending and make decisions for a stronger Sugar Grove that leave more funds for projects that directly benefit the residents.

What do you see as the most important infrastructure project you must address? Why and how should it be paid for? Conversely, during these uncertain economic times, what project(s) can be put on the back burner?

The infrastructure project that has to be addressed is the village hall. The $10 million village hall planned has to be revisited for several reasons with cost being the most obvious. The $100,000 village rebranding seems unnecessary. I would look to eliminate that expense entirely.

Describe your leadership style and explain how you think it will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board.

I work well with all types of personalities and I see differences as an asset. I would be looking to build relationships with everyone elected or hired to foster an environment of peace and cooperation.

What’s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?

I would like to propose recall elections so that the division of the community that occurred in the last four years could be avoided with a recall election if the elected officials do not represent the interests of the majority of the community.