Melvin Kim: Candidate Profile

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Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioQA Bio City: NapervilleWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Naperville Park Board Age: 36Family: Wife - Kimberly Children - Julian, Theodore, Mary AnneOccupation: Grants Research Coordinator at DuPage CountyEducation: Master of Nonprofit Administration (MNA) from North Park University; Master of Arts in Christian Ministry (MACM) from North Park Seminary; Bachelor of Arts in History from University of Illinois Urbana ChampaignCivic involvement: Serves on the Board of Directors at Samaritan Interfaith Counseling Center in Naperville.Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers What programs aren't paying for themselves? Would you keep, eliminate or change them? How and why?I believe one of the Park District's greatest assets is the variety of programs they offer to the community. This diversity in programming gives residents the opportunity to explore new experience while also participating in familiar ones. However, I think the Board should continue to seek guidance from residents and users to find and offer new opportunities as well. This will ensure that the Park District will remain a benefit for everybody in Naperville.Is there any additional open space the park district needs to acquire? Please describe.As the population of Naperville continues to increase, I believe it is important for the Park District to continue strategically look to acquire open space in neighborhoods throughout the city of Naperville. The current construction of the activity center illustrates the Park District's commitment to add to quality of life for all residents. Additionally for my family, the parks near our home often serves many purposes: they are a resource for our children; they are an opportunity to connect with our neighbors; and they provide recreation for the community as a whole. Therefore, I agree with the current direction that the Park District takes in identifying and acquiring open space and I would support them continuing this practice.Are there any unmet recreational needs? If yes, what are they and how would you propose paying for them? Or, should they wait until the economy improves?As I continue to meet and talk with the public, I have not seen any unmet recreational needs. I feel the Park District does a good job working with residents, identifying needs and addressing them. An example of this is the Activity Center on Fort Hill Drive. After listening to residents, the Park District Board made the decision to acquire the land and begin construction on the facility. If elected, I hope to continue the practice of engaging the public by identifying and addressing their needs.Would you support sharing/pooling resources (i.e. printing, vehicles) with other local governments (school districts, village, etc.)? If so, what areas would you consider combining or merging to save money or improve efficiency?. I would support sharing and pooling resources between the Naperville Park District and other local governments as long as this practice would continue to benefit everyone involved. As the fourth highest tax rate on each taxpayer's property tax, the Park District has a responsibility to the public. Yet while it is important to always be mindful of redundancies and collaboration, efficiency for the sake of efficiency does not benefit anyone. Sharing resources with other entities would need to be clearly thought out and vetted by the board. If elected, I would ensure that every member of the community will receive value for every tax-dollar spent by the Park District.If you are a newcomer, what prompted you to run for the park board? If you're an incumbent, list your accomplishments or key initiatives in which you played a leadership role.Since my family moved here to Naperville in 2007, we have been participants and users of many Park District programs. Our three young children, along with many of their friends and their families, are actively involved and enjoy participating with the Park District. However, our demographic, families with young children, is severely under-represented on the Board of Commissioners. Since we are a significant percentage of users of the Park District, I feel it is important to make sure our voice is heard around the table. This is why I have decided to run for the Park District Board.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?My family and I are grateful for the valuable asset that the Park District is in our community. I believe one way by which it can continue to serve Naperville is to continue to increase accessibility for all. For example, many people don't know that the Park District owns and operates 140 parks throughout Naperville. Often times, people find themselves in a different part of our city and want to know what parks, fields or trails are nearby. A mobile app that provides the user with information about the closest facility would encourage residents to use and explore what the Park District has to offer. Additionally, another kind of mobile app could allow users to provide instant feedback to the Park District about needs at any given park. Soccer fields that need to be mowed or playground equipment that is in need of repair could be relayed to and responded by the Park District efficiently and effectively. These examples show how I believe the Park District can continue to become more accessible.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Even though I am not Catholic, Pope Francis is an inspiration. He represents an ideal leader: one who leads with both authority and humility.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Being a son of Korean immigrant parents, I was taught to find the balance of working with others while embracing my uniqueness and differences.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would have taken the opportunity to study abroad in college. I love experiencing other cultures now, but in college I had other priorities.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?History was my favorite subject. It helped me develop the ability to think critically about experiences and how we get to where we are today.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?I teach my kids the concept of "Yes, and..." It's an improv technique that promotes cooperation and encourages authenticity. Feel free to google it!