Oak Lawn Village Clerk: Melissa Moran

Name: Melissa “Missy” Moran

Position sought: Village Clerk

Campaign information:

Campaign contact information:

• Campaign office address: 9632 S. Cicero Ave.
• Website: www.MIPOakLawn.com

• Facebook: facebook.com/mayorsindependenceparty

• Email address:  melissamoran4clerk@gmail.com
• Campaign phone: 708-229-0060

Personal Information:

• Age: 38

• Family: Marty (husband), Jake, Jack & Laney
• Time living in Oak Lawn:14 years
• Education: St. Xavier University  -  Bachelor’s Degree and Secondary Education Certificate. Master’s Degree in Education
• Occupation:  School Teacher
• Political party affiliation, if any: This is a non-partisan election.
• Previous elected offices (if applicable): Vice-President Family School Association

Applicable experience qualifying you for the position:  Bachelor’s Degree - St. Xavier University;  Master’s Degree - St. Xavier University, Two year Master Teacher course study included the role of education in society, impact on policy, understanding of relevant state standards and policies, and the significance of proper organizational skills.   The skill set that I have acquired during my career as a teacher and as a member of various boards and committees will transfer well into the position of clerk as “Keeper of the Records”.  As a teacher, analysis and application of state standards and policies and maintenance of records is part of my daily routine.  Daily collaboration with my colleagues, administrators and parents is an essential part of my job.  Collaboration is exactly what is needed in our village government.  My education, skills and experiences will allow me to transition confidently into the position of clerk.  

Candidate Questions:

Use as much space as you need.

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

I am running for Village Clerk because I have both the ability and educational background to effectively and efficiently perform the duties of the clerk’s office.  I have the drive and ambition to serve the residents of Oak Lawn with integrity and fairness just as I have served the hundreds of children that I have taught.  Above all, I am running because I believe that Oak Lawn will only be at its strongest with all officials working together.  All officials must be given notice of all meetings, must be kept informed of all significant developments and must be given important records coming into the Village.  As a member of the Mayor’s Independence Party, I want to be part of a team of elected officials who works together to move Oak Lawn forward. 

2. Why do you deserve to be elected/reelected? What sets you apart from the other candidate(s)?

I am fortunate to have the educational background and years of work experience necessary to be a qualified candidate for the position of clerk. In addition, I, not unlike many others, have volunteered my time and effort to a variety of different organizations in order to be part of something that makes a difference. I am a hands-on person who wants to help develop and strengthen her community.

What sets me apart from the other candidate is my willingness to work cohesively with all village officials. I believe that the duties of the office as defined by Village Code must come ahead of political and or personal disagreements. As an elected official you are expected to be part of a collective unit that works together with and for all residents of Oak Lawn.  You cannot lose sight of that due to personal politics – it hinders progress.

What further separates Jane Quinlan and me is that I believe Mayor Heilmann is the most qualified mayoral candidate.  He has experience and a plan for our future. I am therefore supporting him. My opponent is supporting Sandra Bury and I strongly disagree that she is qualified to serve as our mayor. 

3.   What are the three issues in the village that you feel need to be addressed right away? Why are these issues important?

Safety: As a parent of three children, a neighbor of many seniors, and a teacher in Oak Lawn, my sensitivity to issues of safety in our Village have recently been heightened.  With the increase in number of robberies and illegal activity in and surrounding my neighborhood over recent months, it immediately makes me ask whether we are doing everything possible as a Village to ensure our safety.  I want our neighborhoods and our schools to be safe.  I want my children and my elderly neighbors to be able to walk their neighborhood or even sit in their homes without being in fear of their safety.   I want to know that my students can travel to and from school, play outside at recess, and learn in an environment where they are safe. I look forward to working with other residents on the Safety Committee being established by Mayor Heilmann as a result of the Village Safety meetings he hosted.   Safe communities keep people and businesses in communities - unsafe communities cause flight of both. 

Communication: This is a significant issue because we not only want to make sure we are reaching out to residents but that we are also making it easy for all residents to see results when they contact the village. Whether it is a phone call, an on-line visit, or a personal visit, we have to have open lines of communication between the residents and village officials and between the village officials themselves.   I believe that in order for our government to be as effective as it can be, the board and administration needs to operate as one unit with one common goal: govern in the best interest of residents, not personal politics.  If the officials fail to communicate effectively, they fail residents.  Once we have a team of elected officials who can set aside their own interests for the needs of all residents then progress can be made.

Development: Few things would be better than to see the expansion of development within our Village.  Promotion of existing businesses and development of new businesses translates to better amenities, higher tax revenues, and a lower property tax burden on homeowners.   

4.    Give one example of how you would work with an adversarial village board?

I will begin by saying that I do not think the answer is filing a lawsuit against other board members. I completely disagree with that.

The Village Clerk must remain faithful to the duties of office as dictated by Village Code.  The  clerk does not hold voting power – it is a neutral position with specific duties to be fulfilled.  Regardless of whether or not the board is adversarial, the Clerk must perform the duties as directed by code. 

I do not believe that we need to settle for having an adversarial board.  I believe that you can have a board where there are strong differences of opinion and still govern in the residents’ best interest.  To do that, however, you need to be willing to look beyond the differences and discuss issues – not every disagreement needs to end up in a heated debate (or a lawsuit).  Elected officials have an obligation to the residents to do the job they were elected to do with respect and dignity – nowhere in Village Code does it say elected officials should fight merely for the sake of fighting or for personal gain.

5.    Should Advocate Christ Medical Center be required to pay impact fees and permit fees for future expansion? Why or why not?

The Village Board recently passed an ordinance removing the exemption that the hospital had regarding permit fees. 

I believe that any organization or development within the Village should be ­self-sustaining and thereby should not be taxing on the finances or infrastructure of the Village.  I also believe that with proper communication, respectable relationships can be and should be built and maintained between the Village and said developments. 

6.    Should there be a cap on video gaming licenses granted to new businesses coming to Oak Lawn? Why or why not?

Yes, there should be a cap on video gaming licenses within the Village.

7.  What do you like best about Oak Lawn?

As a wife, mother and active member of the community, I most enjoy the family centered atmosphere within Oak Lawn.  The sense of homeowner pride among residents, the selection of schools, the parks and park programs, as well as the outstanding public works, police and fire departments all make Oak Lawn a great place to raise our family.  When you live in a community that values what is in the best interest of families, you win!