Cross Makes Pick for Plainfield Park Board

A month after Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-Shorewood) announced her pick, State Rep. Tom Cross (R-Oswego) has made his selection for the seventh member of the Plainfield Park District Board of Commissioners.

On Friday, Cross announced he had chosen applicant Ridgley Ann “Mimi” Poling, who will be sworn in at the park board’s Dec. 10 regular meeting.

Both Cross and Bertino-Tarrant were able to appoint a new member to the board as a result of a new law aimed at diluting the influence of a past board majority following a string of controversial decisions. The legislation expanded the board from five to seven members.

Bertino-Tarrant’s pick, Rob Ayres, was sworn in earlier this month.

“I am pleased to announce my selection of Mimi Poling to the Plainfield Park Board,” Cross said in a statement Friday. “Mimi’s impressive community involvement and experience in education, management and finance make her an exceptionally well-rounded and qualified addition to our park board. Mimi is ready to make a positive difference on day one and help restore the community’s trust in the board moving forward.”

A graduate of Miami University with associate degrees from Joliet Junior College, Poling founded her own landscape design and install business in 1994 and has written numerous columns on horticulture for local newspapers in addition to serving as an adjunct instructor in horticulture, botany and plant ID at Joliet Junior College, according to Cross’ office. Her seat will be up for election in April 2015.

Park board president Mary Kay Ludemann, who said she is not familiar with Poling, said she and park district Executive Director Carlo Capalbo will likely meet with Poling for a board orientation prior to the swearing-in ceremony.

“I’m very excited to have the seventh board member,” Ludemann said. “Now it’s complete and we have a full team.”

Cross’ pick came two days after he conceded defeat to Democrat Michael Frerichs in the Illinois state treasurer race.