Mariyana Spyropoulos: 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: ChicagoWebsite: Mariyana4cleanwater.comTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Age: Candidate did not respond.Family: Candidate did not respond.Occupation: AttorneyEducation: The John Marshall Law School JDLoyola University Chicago MBACivic involvement: Chicago Rivers CommissionJohn Marshall Law School Alumni AssociationSankofaSierra ClubGreek Community OrganizationsElected offices held: Commissioner-Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater ChicagoQuestions Answers The board continues to be dominated by officials from Chicago as opposed to the suburbs. Do you support reforming the way the board is elected to ensure more balanced representation?The nature of the District does require consistent application of our processes despite geographic location. I have worked closely on projects with many suburban elected official and administrators 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 in 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. Is the salary appropriate? Why or why not?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 determined to reduce the salary for budgetary reasons, I would support that change.If you are an incumbent, what has your attendance been for board meetings? IF you are a challenger, have you attended any meetings? How many?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, why they are important and how you would accomplish them.I believe the District does a good job in regards to transparency and public access. We are 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 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've ever run for and what the result of that election was. Have you ever been appointed to fill an unexpired term?I ran for Commissioner of the MWRD in 2008 and was unsuccessful. I was appointed in 2009 to fill a vacancy on the MWRD Board of Commissioners. I then ran for that vacancy in 2010 in the primary and general and won. I ran for the same seat in the 2016 primary and won.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?1) Complete the execute the Stormwater Master Plan to assist communities to combat flooding.2) continue community outreach regarding our programs and services.3)Ensure taxpayer dollars are economically and effectively spent4) Continue to explore partnerships with entities, such as Aarhus 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?treat others as you would be treatedIf life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?spend more time with my fatherWhat was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?history, because it repeats itselfIf you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?believe in yourself