I am running for re-election to the DuPage County Forest Preserve board as Commissioner in District 2. For the past five years, I’ve served as the District 2 Commissioner.  I am the first Democrat and first woman to hold this seat, the first Democratic Woman to chair multiple meetings as President Pro Temp and have served as our Treasurer since 2020.

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Since joining the board, I have helped ensure we put a responsible bidder ordinance in place, have purchased multiple parcels of land so we can protect it for generations to come, added additional trails, multiple river restoration projects, continue the important restoration work in our preserves, planned and built a net zero animal hospital, multiple solar projects across the district and much much more. Personally I have championed to change our policy to ensure our part time workers had easier access to health care. I have been a very strong advocate for ensuring we do more every year to add more accessibility programs and services in our preserves and programs. I have also been an advocate for ensuring we are doing what we can to support dark skies. 

 

I am passionate about protecting and preserving the lands we hold while also ensuring opportunities for our community to connect with nature and our local history.  Protecting our wild spaces is something I have always had a passion for since I was a child, spending time in our wonderful preserves here in DuPage County are what fostered that passion.  Many kids I went to school with didn’t know much outside of our local parks and forest preserves, but we learned through field trips and other visits the importance of green spaces, trees, prairies and even the work the preserves do in flood control for our community.  Like many I grew up rescuing wild creatures, taking the sick and injured to Willowbrook Wildlife for help and learning when to let nature handle the situation. When I was a teen, I remember Mayslake in disrepair and have watched the history come alive in the continued renovation of that great building and lands surrounding. 

 

I served as Chief of Staff for the District 46 for over four years, where a main part of my work was handling constituent services. I have been a small business owner since I was 16 years old, running a record label, as well as operating a photography and florist business based in Lombard. I continue to do work as consultant in financial sector for multinational organizations, political consulting as well as photography.

 

Currently I am an active volunteer with the DuPage County Forest Preserve in multiple areas; Natural Resources monitoring bluebirds, frogs and dragonflies as well as working with native plants endangered here in Illinois.  I am also a Master Naturalist through the University of Illinois Extension program that goes through everything from the geological history of Illinois to flora and fauna, waterways, prairie restoration and much more.  As part of the Master Naturalist program, each year we must complete a standard set of volunteer and continuing education hours to keep our certifications.  I also have completed the Nature Photography certificate program through the Morton Arboretum, which required numerous plant and tree identification courses. 

 

Being part of the educational side with volunteer work is the most rewarding.  I am often amazed at how much young kids know from school about conservation, or when a child pulls their parent in to show them something they have learned.  I once was that child, and find so much joy in seeing anyone at any age connect with nature and learn something new.  

 

I grew up in Lombard and went to school at Willowbrook High School. The rest of my educational career took me through College of DuPage, Columbia College Chicago, and then to Ireland for two Graduate degrees at National University Ireland, Galway and Trinity College Dublin. I met my husband, Martin, while attending Trinity College and we married in Ireland. When we emigrated back to the US, we settled just a block away from my family in Lombard, where we continue to live.              

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I am part of the CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Diamond Class through Milton Township, and enjoy volunteering for events, training courses and assisting when local first responders need volunteers to aid in their training sessions.  

 

Locally I am the elected precinct committeeman for my own precinct and served two terms as chair of the York Township Democratic Organization. I am also on the executive board for the Democratic Women of DuPage County, and served as President in 2024.  I also do work with the Democratic Party of DuPage County serving on the executive committee and help on other local campaigns.​

 

I want to ensure that the voices of the District 2 are heard and welcome the views and opinions of the people. Together we can overcome the obstacles in our path and work together for our bright future.

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