Melissa Martin: 2025 candidate for Oak Brook village board

Bio

Office sought: Oak Brook village board (Vote for 3)

City: Oak Brook

Age: 44

Occupation: Associate professor of accounting

Previous offices held: Appointed Oak Brook Village Trustee in June 2023

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

Our village faces a unique problem of continuing to support our longtime residents while keeping an eye toward the influx of younger families. Balancing these two constituent groups requires smart investment in our future while maintaining our commitment to the programs and facilities enjoyed by our longtime residents.

We must also continue to be proactive in our approach to public safety and fiscal conservatism which have allowed significant investments in police technology and a renewed focus on village infrastructure.

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?

We have maintained a conservative approach to our fiscal decisions and have worked to ensure all businesses in the village pay their fair share of sales tax. In doing so, we have been able to maintain a comfortable financial position that has allowed for continued investment in the future of Oak Brook.

Our spending has focused on enhancing public safety, and we will continue to maintain this focus. Our turnaround at the Sports Core has also enabled long due reinvestment in village infrastructure.

Our continued spending will focus on overdue equipment replacement, road and bridge projects, and other infrastructure improvements and repairs.

What do you see as the most important infrastructure project the community 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?

For many years large infrastructure projects were put on hold due to uncertain financial positions. Under the current excellent village management, we have been able to identify many cost saving opportunities and efficiencies.

In addition, the work at revitalizing the Sports Core has produced financial savings that free up resources from the general fund. In doing so, we have approved a myriad of projects related to improving road and bridge infrastructure.

However, we have done so in a calculated and cost effective way by grouping water and sewer projects with road repairs so as not to duplicate effort and waste resources.

Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach an agreement and manage local government? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board.

I spend considerable time familiarizing myself both with the current issues facing the village but also with the history — as the history often informs the position of other leaders and our constituents.

I have found the village staff to be excellent in preparing information for the board which allows lively discussion and frequently collaborative outcomes.

In being properly informed, I am also not afraid to ask the difficult questions both of the staff and other board members. At times this results in a dissenting opinion which is healthy in effectively managing the village.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I pride myself in being an informed leader who listens to the broad constituent base in Oak Brook. Ranging from my personal experience as parent of school-age children to the historical perspective of long-term residents, I can effectively integrate these voices into fiscally responsible but forward looking village priorities.

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

We must continue to focus on innovative investments in the village — particularly as it related to office space and corporate engagement. Exploring additional uses for more traditional office space and integrating technology will ensure Oak Brook continues to be a corporate destination.