Stevan A. Brockman: Village Board Candidate

Name: Stevan A. Brockman

Position sought: Village of Shorewood trustee

Phone: 815-744-1311

Age: 60

Family: Wife, Debbie, and daughter, Kimberly

Education: Bachelor of science in agronomy from the University of Illinois in 1973

Occupation: Operations manager for Garden Prairie Organics

Political party affiliation, if any: I vote for the most qualified person for the job.

Previous elected offices: Hunt Club Homeowners president

Applicable experience qualifying you for the position: Ten-year member of Shorewood Planning and Zoning,  attend most village board meetings, citizen advisory meetings, and special events.

• What is the primary reason you are running for this office?

I have always been interested in the future of our Village. I believe everyone should serve their community in some way. After 10 years experience on Shorewood’s Planning and Zoning, 15 years as the Hunt Club Homeowners president, and 38 years in the green industry business, I am better prepared for the next level of community service. I would consider it an honor and a privilege to continue my service as one of your Village Trustees.

• What will be your single most important priority if you get elected?

My number one goal as your trustee would be to make all decisions with common sense for the betterment of our entire Village. We need to grow, spend and decide with common sense in mind. Whether it is being a good neighbor to our surrounding towns north or south of our village limits, or density of the  new neighborhoods, or the safety of all our residents, or a hundred other things, it all comes down to conservative common sense decision making.

• What sets you apart from the other candidates?

Being involved in an environmentally sensitive business for more than 38 years without interruption and coming from a farm background sets me apart from most. Not only do I have the answers of where stuff came from, but  I also had the answer of where stuff goes. Early in 2010, I had the time to write my own autobiography titled, “I Was Compost When Compost Wasn’t Cool.” As a first time author, this not only sets me apart from my other opponents, but also tells a great story of all the wonderful people I have worked with or managed in the fields of composting and farming on a large scale over the last 40 years.

• How long have you lived in Shorewood?

My wife and I have lived in the village for 18 years.

• What's your favorite thing about Shorewood?

The best part of Shorewood is almost everything that most people need is accessible within a very short distance situated at the crossroads of the U.S.

• What is the biggest problem in Shorewood?

The biggest problem is not having enough to do for kids.