Ronette Leal McCarthy, Candidate For Mayor Of Palos Park

PALOS PARK, IL — For the first time in 16 years, Palos Park residents will be selecting a new mayor on April 4. Ronette Leal McCarthy is challenging current Palos Park Commissioner Nicole Milovich-Walters for mayor. The mayoral seat is the only contested seat in the upcoming Palos Park Village Council election.

Read McCarthy's responses to the Patch questionnaire.

Name: Ronette McCarthy

Age (as of Election Day): 51

Town/City of Residence: Palos Park

Office Sought: Mayor of Palos Park

Family: Daniel J. McCarthy, husband of 23 years. Two children, Emmet (15), Mary Margaret (12), and Flossie the Dog (2)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No

Occupation: Attorney, Private Practice & Served as a Municipal Attorney

Campaign website or Facebook or other social media: Our Palos Park,
Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

Previous or current elected or appointed office: Vice-president McCord Gallery & Cultural Center; Palos Park Woman’s Club Board, Village of Palos Park Fence Committee, Illinois Department of Public Health Hospice & Palliative Care Committee, Illinois Department of Public Health POLST Initiative Taskforce, Greater Illinois Hospice & Palliative Care Coalition Board, Tuesday’s Child Board Member, American Cancer Society Junior Board

The most pressing issues facing Palos Park are _______, and this is what I intend to do about them.

We are fortunate to live in the Park. Our pristine environment lends to an idyllic family setting. Areas of concern are safety; collaboration between residents, businesses and community organizations; fiscal management and oversight; and transparency.

Safety is a paramount concern. We all deserve to feel safe in our neighborhood and streets. As a mother to two school aged children, I worry about their safety and the safety of all families throughout Palos Park. The Palos Park Police Department is doing their best to keep us safe, but our department lacks the monetary resources to grow in accordance with the villages needs.

Collaboration makes a community. My plan will connect residents to businesses, happenings within community organizations, and village hall seamlessly so that our residents will feel connected and our businesses will have a pipeline to the residents.

With our Village’s current fiscal constraints, a fresh perspective on ways to generate additional revenues is needed. With the new businesses that have opened in Palos Park, as of recent, some relief has been seen. There are additional avenues that need to be explored to generate new funds for our village. The long vacancies in our storefronts is very concerning to me and will be addressed immediately.

Transparency amongst government has become the new social norm. One of my immediate tasks will be to simplify the way the community receives information and can access it.

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

My experience as a municipal attorney put me front and center amongst many communities throughout the tri-county area. This experience provides me with a greater amount of insight, knowledge, and experience as I’ve been witness to successes, challenges, and forward thinking outside of the Village of Palos Park. Often, successes come from the outside. Fresh perspectives lead to fresh ideas.

In addition, my community leadership is evident by my involvement as not only a member of many organizations but to my positions on the executive levels. Leading these organizations has provided me with a breadth of experience on how not only the community functions within the Village, but what the organizations need for support to continue to thrive within the Village.
Finally, as the Founder of Palos Park’s largest social network, Palos Park Neighbors with over 1,500 members to date, I’ve proven my ability to foster positive community engagement.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community or district?

As we’ve canvassed we heard over and over that residents do not feel they have a voice in their own Village Government; they have heavy concerns about their safety; they have heartfelt worry about the reckless destruction of the trees throughout the village.

Residents have concerns about the current administration's inability to fill the vacancies on boards within the community. Residents feel their experience and backgrounds should be utilized collaboratively to help strengthen the Village from within, starting with vacancies on boards.

The Village, and the current Board, my opponent included, have also failed in transparency.
From Wu’s Valet parking overflow vehicles at the Village Hall parking lot for almost a calendar year without compensation for rental of the spaces or an insurance identification/rider/waiver leaving the residents subject to potential liability and substantial risk. Unacceptable.

To the loss of the Glen Eagles acreage after a costly appellate court battle which annexed the property into the Village of Palos Park. Only recently to have Glen Eagles acreage deannex from the Village of Palos Park and return to the Village of Lemont leaving the taxpayers the financial burden.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

1. Safety
2. Fiscal Responsibility
3. Transparency
4. Community Engagement
5. Environmental Stewardship

Public Safety: Increase fiscal opportunities for our police department to continue to ensure a safe environment for the community. Increase the number of full-time police officers within the department.

Fiscal Responsibility: We are primarily a property tax base community, therefore, we must explore new avenues for revenue generation without increasing local tax.

Transparency: We will streamline the communities ability to have access to information, village events, education, and outreach programs.

Community Engagement: Create a more comprehensive village outreach program to increase communication between the village and the residents. Ensure all residents feel as if they are a part of the village government and their voice is heard.

Environmental Stewardship: Create a plan for new residents to learn about the environment that surrounds them and their impact on it. Design additional educational opportunities and collaborations with all residents and community organizations focusing on the environment.

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

My professional life has led to being Mayor of the Village of Palos Park, most notably my time spent as a municipal attorney. There is not one facet of our village government which I have not experienced or worked on. My knowledge of government function, form, and planning is paramount. It comes not only from the local level but the state as well.

Why should voters trust you?

My entire family has given of ourselves to the Palos Park community for many years. We educate, and teach, our children one of service and community involvement. Being a community leader shows that trust exists within the community to allow me to serve in this manner, this trust and confidence, will be brought to the village as Mayor.

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

While there will be many accomplishments, one accompaniment will be measured by the level of community involvement and participation. When you have a community who desires to be involved in village government whether on a committee or board, work with special events, or help plan for the future of the village the successes will be obvious. Democracy is founded for the people, for the residents, and involving them in the process will be a great success for all to see.

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

Fiscal spending is paramount in the village, as discussed earlier, since the majority of our funds come from property taxes. Every dollar matters, every dollar counts. There are additional opportunities, both local and state, which can enhance the budget for the village. All of these opportunities need to be explored.

In what ways can intergovernmental relationships with state, county and other local governmental agencies be strengthened or improved?

We have a wealth of intergovernmental relationship opportunities available to the village, many which are already established and others which can be initiated or created. Open lines of communication, being a welcoming partner, with other local, county and state agencies is vital. A review of existing relationships will be conducted within a 100 day review of the village to determine what new relationships can be established and what existing relationships can be strengthened. My background provides me with a wealth of contacts throughout the county and state which will be tapped.

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:

Lead with your heart and the rest will come. Leading with your heart allows you to see the best in people, the best in opportunities, and the best in your community. It is from that lens one can lead with their knowledge, background, and experience always putting the main priority first; for the village the main priority is the residents. The Residents will be FIRST when I am Mayor of the Village of Palos Park.