Mundelein board candidates talk qualifications
Candidates for seats on Mundelein's village board are citing business experience and community service among their qualifications to serve on the panel.
Six residents are running for three seats with 4-year terms in the April 4 election. They are incumbents Ray Semple and Dawn Abernathy; former Trustee Robin Meier; plan commission member Scott Black; and political newcomers Karthik Chandramouli and Jeanne Cygnus.
Chandramouli, Cygnus and Meier are with the Mundelein United slate. Abernathy, Black and Semple are campaigning together but are not part of a formal slate.
The candidates discussed their qualifications and other issues in a group interview with the Daily Herald and in questionnaires.
Abernathy, a board member since 2013, said she treats being a trustee as a full-time job. She's at "almost all" community, business and educational events in town, she said.
"We have to be out in the public, meeting them (and) talking with them in order to know their needs and desires for their town," Abernathy said.
Black said his 21 years on Mundelein's planning and zoning commission, which helps shape residential and commercial development, make him the best candidate.
"Mundelein is on the cusp of some exciting changes, particularly in regards to downtown redevelopment, and I plan on helping to implement them," he said.
Chandramouli, a business consultant, said his years of private-sector experience give him an advantage over the other candidates. He says he has a "sense of possibility" for Mundelein that officials have lacked.
"I'm passionate to put Mundelein on the map and showcase our community as an ideal destination for families and businesses of all types," he said.
Cygnus, owns two businesses and said her professional experience would be beneficial.
"(It) gives me a framework for looking at issues and searching for solutions," she said. "I know how to work with a team to move things forward in a timely manner while also working within the constraints of a budget."
Meier, a trustee from 2008 to 2015, said her commitment to public service is a strength. She said she listens respectfully to people and makes "common sense decisions" based on community input, facts and research.
Her previous time on the board will make for a quick transition if she's elected, Meier added.
Semple, a trustee since 1995, said he has the experience to bring projects and proposals now before the board to reality.
"My simple goal is to make Mundelein a place where my own kids want to live and raise their own families," he said. "I'm proud of what we have done during my tenure, but there is still lots more to do."