As President of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, my top priorities will be:
- Protection of the public's forest preserve lands;
- Focus on Mission; and
- Transparency with the tax-paying public.
Protection of the public's forest preserve lands
The residents of DuPage County are incredibly fortunate to have had the foresight, resources, and the opportunity to acquire more than 26,000 acres of magnificent forest preserve. Rarely has a suburban county so close to a major metropolitan center like Chicago, possessed such a jewel in their midst. North or south, no other county can boast a more glorious collection of natural areas than in our own preserves. I am intensely committed to preserving this very precious gem.However, the District is at a critical crossroads, and the "jewel" is still a "diamond-in-the-rough". While acquisition of open lands is the foundation, the real challenge is to protect and transform that "uncut gem" to a state of perfection: to support the diverse interests of our residents and truly enrich the quality of their lives. The key to reaching that goal is to create and maintain a delicate balance between recreation, preservation and restoration of lands previously used for other purposes, such as agriculture. As a leader, my highest priority will be to ensure that the District achieves this important balance in pursuit of the perfect blend for the preserves, protecting existing lands from over-development and restoring others.
Focus on Mission
The mission of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is "to acquire and hold lands containing forests, prairies, wetlands, and associated plant communities or lands capable of being restored to such natural conditions for the purpose of protecting and preserving the flora, fauna, and scenic beauty for the education, pleasure, and recreation of its citizens."
It is important to emphasize that, in a broad sense, the District exists to support and uphold this mission. However, people sense that the District has moved away from the mission in recent years. As President, my goal will be to transform the District into a truly "mission-driven" organization. This means, in practical terms, that every significant decision we contemplate will automatically be weighed against our mission prior to moving ahead. Moreover, the mission will effectively be the "lens" through which every member of our staff views both the Forest Preserve's role within our County and their own role within the District. Since this is not the current management style, reaching this goal will require a cultural change at all levels.
Transparency with the Tax-paying Public
As a division of our DuPage County government, The Forest Preserve District of DuPage is substantially supported by the taxes paid by each and every resident. Therefore, the District has a significant level of accountability to the public. However, people across DuPage County are concerned with the general lack of accountability and sense of arrogance they detect when interacting with the District at virtually all levels. Most people do not feel that there is anyone truly listening to their concerns, or that they have reasonable access to information on projects or decisions which are important to them. As a result there clearly has been an erosion of the public's trust and level of confidence in the District across the County.
As President, I will move the District to a customer-centric model, ensuring that we recognize that every member of our staff has a connection with those we serve. This, again, will involve exciting and sweeping change in the way we approach our daily business across a whole spectrum of issues of concern to our residents. Under my leadership, all plans and projects will be planned and executed only following proper due diligence and full disclosure to the public. Furthermore, I will ensure access to information about projects, free from many of the barriers and hurdles which exist today. Our customers will be informed of decisions and activities well before they are imminent, or "shovel-ready". My goal will be to restore the basic foundation of trust with each and every "customer" in the county. This will be one of our most important challenges and a common sense approach will guide the District's activities.
The District needs a proven leader with vision, energy and a strong connection with nature. My professional credentials and personal interests are the perfect blend of leadership, management and a passion for preserving this precious gift. I look forward to leading the District to transform our preserves to a truly "flawless gem", through protection of forest lands, focus on our Mission, and transparency.
