Bertino-Tarrant Announces Pick for Plainfield Park Board

Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-Shorewood) on Wednesday announced the appointment of Rob Ayres as the newest member of the Plainfield Park District Board of Commissioners.

The announcement comes two months after Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill to expand the board from five to seven members.

The law also allows State Rep. Tom Cross (R-Oswego) to appoint a member to the board.

Ayres, president of the Plainfield Soccer Association, has been outspoken on park district matters and last winter launched an online survey on issues relating to the park district.

“I believe Rob’s experience and community involvement make him a wonderful addition to the management of our park district,” said Bertino-Tarrant, who in August created a selection committee to help choose the new board member. She said the selection committee, which was comprised of a municipal government official, a park advocacy official and two community residents, narrowed the pool of initial applicants to two individuals before she made her final choice.

“I’m incredibly excited to begin working with the Plainfield park board in this capacity and help get them back on track,” Ayres said in a press release issued by Bertino-Tarrant’s office. “I am eager to get to work and help move our park district forward.”

Park board president Mary Kay Ludemann said Ayres will be sworn in at the park board’s Nov. 12 meeting.

“I think Rob will be a great addition to our board,” she said of Ayres, who works for Nicor. “He has a strong finance background, which will be beneficial.”

Ludemann said she expects an announcement on Cross’ pick for the board soon.

Bertino-Tarrant and Cross worked to pass the bill to expand the park board after residents complained about controversial decisions made by a past board majority.

“Clearly there have been a lot of problems with the Plainfield Park Board in the past,” Bertino-Tarrant said. “I am confident that Rob will help renew the community’s faith in the board by promoting the accountability and ethical standards that have been lacking for so long.”

Related:

• Plainfield Park Board OKs New Director
• Plainfield Park Board Members, Soccer Group Discuss Equipment Shed, Field Use
• State Police Investigating Plainfield Park District
• Accusations of Patronage, Dummy Companies at Plainfield Park District

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