Ronette McCarthy is the Leader Palos Park Needs.

Dear Residents of Palos Park:

As some of you may recall, I ran for mayor of Palos Park in 2019 as the youngest candidate in the history of our village. While I may not have won that election, I learned a great deal about our community and the importance of local leadership, and remain committed to seeing Palos Park thrive.

As next month’s election approaches, I would like to endorse Ronette Leal McCarthy for mayor. Having spent time getting to know her and her vision for Palos Park, I believe that Ronette has the dedication and passion to lead our town forward.

One of the main criticisms I faced during my own campaign was my lack of experience. It was an argument that I took seriously and worked hard to address by gaining knowledge and insight into the workings of the village government.

Ronette’s opponents are now using that same tired line of attack against her. Let me tell you — experience does matter, and Ronette has it in abundance. In addition to her professional experience as a municipal attorney, she has served our community in dozens of capacities throughout the years. Just take a look at the resumé on her website!

But experience isn’t the only thing that matters. We need leaders who are compassionate, approachable, and always willing to hear from residents.

Unfortunately, not all of Palos Park’s current leaders share Ronette’s commitment to listening to residents. At the most recent village board meeting, Commissioner G. Darryl Reed, running on the Palos Park First slate, told residents expressing concerns to “shut the hell up.” Obviously, this kind of behavior is unacceptable and has no place in Village Hall.

I am confident that Ronette understands the importance of preserving our small- town charm while also supporting economic growth and development. Please join me in voting for Ronette Leal McCarthy on Tuesday, April 4.

Sincerely,

Nicholas W. Baker

2019 Mayoral Candidate