Hillary Kurzawa, Frankfort Village Trustee Candidate

FRANKFORT, IL — Hillary Kurzawa is a candidate for Village of Frankfort trustee. There are five candidates running for three open positions in this race.

The consolidated election is April 4.

You can find Kurzawa's answers to the Patch candidate questionnaire below:

Your Name:

Hillary (Mattsey) Kurzawa

Age (as of Election Day):

37

Town/City of Residence:

Frankfort

Office sought:

Village board

Party Affiliation (if a partisan race):

N/A

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My husband has been a law enforcement officer for 19 years in the Village of Lemont.

Education:

I am a Lincoln-Way Central graduate and attended DePaul University. I am also a cosmetologist and received my training from Capri Beauty College in New Lenox, IL.

Occupation:

Cosmetologist- 15 years

Campaign Website or Facebook:

Www.hillaryKurzawa.com

Facebook- Hillary Kurzawa for Frankfort Trustee

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office:

Republican Precinct Committee Person for Frankfort Township precinct 21. Appointed

The most pressing issues facing our (board, district, etc.) are _______, and this is what I intend to do about them.

I believe the pressing issues that our board will be facing are our public safety compliancy, the residential concern for rising taxes, and the development of our historic downtown and Laraway corridor. If elected I will ensure law enforcement has the personnel and resources to insure safe streets and schools. I will practice a fiscally responsible approach to village spending to protect Village tax dollars and work to approve businesses that harmonize with village aesthetics.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I believe there are critical differences between myself and some of the other candidates seeking this office. One of the biggest differences is my fiscally conservative approach to village spending. Some of the candidates in the race have publicly expressed a willingness to approve millions of additional dollars in village expenditures if given the opportunity; raising our taxes with little to no regard the burden it will place on our community members. As a mother raising a young family, this concerns me. I also have a fresh outlook on the issues that are facing our community and will approach every board decision with an open mind and thorough consideration while always promoting a healthy discussion of differing ideas.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)? Or what changes would you like to see?

I was extremely concerned when I heard about the proposed plan for the Borg-Warner property. Borrowing millions of dollars from the village to give to the park district in hopes of a referendum passing is a big risk. Frankfort residents did not support that referendum but more importantly the tax increase. I believe it is unacceptable to gamble with taxpayer dollars and would never break our resident's trust in that manner. As Trustee, I will always listen to the true desires and wants of our residents. I will work towards more discussion as a board on such initiatives and large ticket items should be brought to the voters of Frankfort in the form of a ballot referendum.

Describe the other issues or ideas that define your campaign platform:

My campaign is based on the issues that are most important to the residents of our great village. I will focus on protecting our public safety, protecting our tax dollars, and supporting development that meets the needs and wants of our residents.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

My career as a successful stylist of 15 years has allowed me to understand the diverse needs and concerns of people and the ability to connect with individuals from all different backgrounds and life experiences . In my professional career, I have always earned the respect of my colleagues and superiors for my professionalism and my attention to detail. As a former Manager, I was entrusted with the day-to-day operations of the business, educating our new hirers, promoting a healthy work environment, and resolving issues /complaints thoroughly.

Why should voters trust you?

I am a third-generation Frankfort resident and care deeply for our community. I am an honest, independent, and hard-working individual who will always work for the residents of Frankfort and do my best to facilitate a resolution to their issues.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?

What would make my term in office a success is following through on my campaign promise to protect our community by supporting our Law Enforcement, protecting our resident's tax dollars through fiscally responsible village spending, and supporting development that meets the needs of our community.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the handling of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

As trustee, I will promote a fiscally conservative approach to village spending and make sure that our resident's tax dollars are spent efficiently.

Do you support the Illinois assault weapons ban, and would you support a local assault weapons ban in this community?

The Village of Frankfort is a non-home rule municipality and the village board does not have the authority to impose or lift an assault weapons ban. Those laws are set by the state and we, as board members, are obligated to adhere to those standards. A main factor in the implementation of this ban was the horrible and tragic mass shooting in Highland Park. As trustee I will always do what is within my power to keep our residents and most importantly our children safe. I promise to continue our high standards in public safety by supporting school resource officers, law enforcement hiring, and training initiatives.

Do you think the current board has done enough to support racial equality? If not, what specifically should be done to do so?

I believe we should always be focused on making our community members feel equal, safe, and included. I also believe that we should hear directly from our residents of all racial backgrounds to better understand our village and our commitment to racial equality. I would support more diversity in hiring at the village to ensure everyone has a voice at the table.

Do you support the SAFE-T Act? Why or why not?

I respectfully do not support the SAFE-T Act in its current form. As the wife of a law enforcement officer, I have a unique perspective on the Act and have seen its implementation firsthand. I believe it was passed in haste with little law enforcement involvement or practical timelines for municipalities to fund or provide proper training in new state mandates. I hope going forward that Springfield will work together with law enforcement to give more clarity, detail, and boundaries to this legislation in the future.

What are your thoughts on the crime rate in your community, and what more can be done to combat crime — especially violent crime — in town?

While speaking to our residents during my campaign one of the deciding factors that brought them to our village was our excellent public safety. The Frankfort police department has done an impeccable job connecting with our community and serving our residents. Currently, we do not have a violent crime problem but as a trustee I would continue to support our police department and make sure they have the tools they need to combat any future rise in crime.

What is your view of the city's/village's approach to commercial and residential development?

I believe that both commercial and residential development should align with our Frankfort’s 2040 comprehensive plan. Our development should comply with our village building style, standards, and guidelines.

When it comes to development, what are some key areas for improvement or additions you feel are most wanted by residents? What will need to be done to make this happen?

Many of our residents have shown interest in new and diverse dining/entertainment destinations in Frankfort. As a trustee I would support improvements to our community that fit these needs based on approval from our planning committee.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

No

The best advice ever shared with me was:

I would say the best advice I have received was from my parents, Jeff and Cheri Mattsey. They always told me to peruse a career that I am passionate about and that I truly believe in. My father has had a successful career as a world-renowned opera singer and has shown us that through hard work, perseverance, and dedication you can achieve your dreams no matter how big or small.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I believe that all of our candidates must earn your vote and that no one is entitled to a position on the board. Our village needs independent trustees who will work for the people’s best interest and I truly believe I am that candidate. I am working diligently to meet our residents door to door and I am truly listening to the concerns and desires of all of our community members. I have been endorsed by Mayor Ogle and have been receiving support throughout Frankfort. If you would like to discuss my platform and learn more about my campaign you can reach me by email at kurzawa4frankfort@gmail.com or by phone at 815-212-4037. I hope to earn your trust and your vote on or before April 4th!