Mariyana Spyropoulos: Candidate Profile

Back to Metropolitan Water Reclamation District

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: ChicagoWebsite: Mariyana4cleanwater.comTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Age: Candidate did not respond.Family: Husband - PaulOccupation: Commissioner/AttorneyEducation: BA Political ScienceJDMBACivic involvement: Public Building CommissionerJohn Marshall Law School Alumni BoardSankofa HouseSierra ClubPlant Your Roots in GreeceKalavryta SocietyElected offices held: Commissioner - Metropolitan Water Reclamation District since 2009Questions Answers The board continues to be dominated by officials from the city as opposed to the suburbs. Do you support reforming the way the board is elected to ensure more balanced representation?The nature of what the District does requires consistent application of our processes despite geographical location. I have worked closely on projects with many suburban elected officials on projects that affect their areas, despite the fact that I live in Chicago. Regardless where the commissioner lives they are stewards for all residents of Cook County.The role of board members is described as part time, yet the salary associated with it is more than most people make in their full-time job. Should that salary be cut?The position is what you make of it. I approach the position as a full time job. I believe that the Commissioners earn their salaries, however, since we are a creature of statute, if it was determined to reduce the salary for budgetary reasons, I would support that changeIf you are an incumbent, what has your attendance been for board meetings? IF you are a challenger, have you attended any meetings? How many? Do you know the attendance rate of the incumbent candidates?As an incumbent, I have missed only three meetings over the course of 6 years.How do you rate the MWRD on transparency and the public's access to records? If you consider it adequate, please explain why. If you think improvements are needed, please describe them and why they are importantI believe the district does a good job in regards to transparency and public access. We are extremely responsive to information requests from citizens and various entities. Currently we are in the process of making documents regarding our land holdings available via the Internet further contributing to the districts transparency. After joining the board, one of my first initiatives was making meetings accessible via podcast on our website. I would like to take this further by having our meetings broadcast on public access channels throughout the county.Please list any elected office you have ever run for and what the result of that election was. Have you ever been appointed to fill an unexpired term?I ran for MWRD Commissioner in 2008 and was unsuccessful. I was appointed in 2009 to fill a vacancy on MWRD Board of Commissioners. I then ran for that vacancy in 2010 and won.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?1) Complete and execute the Stormwater Master Plan to assist communities to combat flooding. 2) Continue community outreach regarding our district programs and services.3) Ensure taxpayer dollars are economically and effectively spent. 4) Continue to explore partnerships with entities, such as the current agreement with Aarhus Water in Denmark, that keep us abreast of developing technologies and trends.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Hillary ClintonWhat is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Always treat others, as you would like to be treated.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Spend more time with my father.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?History, because society can learn from its past.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Believe in yourself.