Three new faces on Glen Ellyn park board

It seems patrons of the Glen Ellyn Park District are ready for some change.

At least, that's what voters indicated when three newcomers ousted three incumbents from the park board in Tuesday's election.

Melissa Creech, Julia Nephew and Jay Kinzler, who ran as a slate motivated by last year's Ackerman Park flap, won spots on the board, defeating the remaining five candidates by a wide margin. Unofficial results showed Creech with 2,566 votes, Nephew with 2,207 and Kinzler with 2,206.

The only incumbent who will be returning is Ron Aubrey, who garnered 1,723 votes.

"I think we must have resonated with the residents," Kinzler said. "I think we expressed and did a good job of getting the message across that we're interested in getting input from residents."

Members of the slate concentrated on communication, an issue they said came up last year when the board was discussing cutting down several hundred trees at Ackerman Park.

Although the board eventually overturned that decision, the three candidates said information from the district was largely lacking.

Creech said that's one of the things she wants to concentrate on changing right away. She wants to have the packets the board looks at during meetings available to the public through the district's Web site.

"I think a lot of people are frustrated that the park district has not listened to them," she said. "There's a disconnect between people in the community and the current board."

Nephew also credits the grass-roots volunteers who supported the slate's campaign.

She said it's so rare to oust incumbents that it's obvious to her that things have to change.

Bill Taylor, an incumbent who wasn't re-elected, said low voter turnout also gave the challengers more of a chance to win.

"I can't apologize for anything the park district's done," he said. "I'm very proud of what we accomplished in four years."

Aubrey, the sole incumbent elected Tuesday, credits the work he's done in the community to make a name for himself.

He said he wants to listen to the passions that have driven the three new people to the board and come to some consensus on what's best for Glen Ellyn.

"It's not about me and that's not why I serve," he said. "I'll listen and learn and give them the time they need to learn what it's like to be an effective board member."