Girl, 10, is Long Grove 'Mayor for the Day'

Within the span of just one morning on her one day as village president, 10-year-old Christina Rao signed off on an ordinance for elevator safety and approved an outdoor event for a local business.

The St. Mary's student won the "Mayor for a Day" prize through the Jingle Jubilee at the school.

She spent a full day Thursday as the leader of the town, starting off with a tour of the village hall and a look at the zoning map and master plan, one of the issues the village board will soon take up.

Christina said she didn't tell anyone at school besides her teacher and a friend about the prize because she didn't want anyone to get jealous about her getting a day off school.

"My teacher was really excited," she said.

Village President Maria Rodriguez gave Christina a snapshot of what her work is normally like.

Besides stopping by village hall, the pair also visited businesses in downtown Long Grove.

"I try to get into as many shops as I can," Rodriguez said, to learn about what business owners are worried about and what the village can do to stimulate shopping in the area.

One of the big items the village board has been talking about this past year is renovating the downtown area to bring more attention and customers to it.

On Thursday, Christina and Rodriguez chatted with Rachel Perkel, who owns the shop Trillium. Perkel tested Christina's acumen as president with a proposal for an outdoor event with an animal shelter, to kick off spring and to help adopt out animals that don't have a home.

The event won't actually be happening, but it was an example of something village presidents and mayors would be asked about.

Christina instantly gave her approval.

"I think it would be a great idea," she said. "I love animals."

Later in the day, Christina and Rodriguez went to a Lake County board meeting regarding the Buffalo Creek Reservoir project. It would help flood control in the area and Long Grove has been in support of getting it off the ground.

Rodriguez said the various activities are the kind of work that takes up much of her time as village president, albeit usually not all in one day.

Christina said she learned a lot about the town, including finding stores that she didn't know existed.

She said she even enjoyed going to the Lake County board meeting, which she said she found interesting and a little perplexing.

"Politics can be very confusing sometimes," Christina said.