Transparency keyed Mettawa race
Mettawa is small, exclusive and normally quiet. But the silence was shattered last fall when trees were cleared on village-owned property at Route 60 and the Tri-State Tollway to make way for a proposed Costco store.
Retired marketing executive Jess Ray became the go-to guy for resident discontent and was selected as the mayoral challenger on a ticket to challenge the incumbents. He also sued the village in connection with the property sale - a complaint that is ongoing.
Running as the Mettawa Transparency Party, Ray and running mates challenged what they described as an entrenched village administration. They vowed to make the business of government more accessible to the public.
About 70 percent of Mettawa's 413 registered voters cast ballots, compared to 22 percent countywide. Ray and longtime incumbent Barry MacLean knotted at 143 votes apiece. The race was decided two weeks later when all three late-arriving absentee ballots went to Ray.
Following are the new mayor's answers to questions posed by the Daily Herald.
Q: What did you learn from the campaign that you hope to put into action as mayor?
A: 1) That residents will become passionate, take action and vote if given adequate information. 2) The power of a grass-roots organization to create change in a political environment.
Q: What project or proposal will be your first initiative?
A: Develop new commissions to allow more residents to become involved in the management of the village. As an example: we currently have a plan commission with nine members and a zoning board of appeals with seven members. Given the overlap with these two current commissions, I have requested that they be blended into one, seven-member commission. This will allow room for some new commissions on which residents can serve. As an example, I am recommending a new commission called "safety and security." Given the number of people and animals we have in the village we want to develop better safety measures and plans in the event there are any emergencies we need to deal with and manage.
Q: Name something you admire about your predecessor as well as something you would want to do better or improve upon.
A: I admire how (Barry MacLean) kept his interest in managing the village for 14 years as a mayor and 38 years on the board. We will update a number of things in the management of the village that will provide better fiscal control, resident communications/involvement, preservation of 5-acre and rural zoning and cooperation with residents and neighbors.
Q: How will you put your mark on this office?
A: Respecting and involving residents and neighbors in the matters of the village. Improving the desirability of the village as a place to live a rural lifestyle. We will be looking for ways to better inform/educate our residents and neighbors of the many rural activities within the village, for example, equestrian therapy, dog rescue and care, riding trails, roadway safety, landscaping/gardening/pond insights, keeping horses, keeping chickens and healthy eggs, beekeeping and honey, wildlife refuge and education, Monarch butterfly way stations and other resident volunteerism.
Q: Transparency was a theme of your campaign. How will you pursue that as mayor?
A: Development of a village Web site, improvement in resident input at board meetings, newsletters and more opportunities for residents to become involved in the management of the village.
Q: You are now in the unusual position of suing the town you lead regarding the sale of village property to Costco. What is the next sept or strategy regarding that pending sale?
A: I will be replaced on the lawsuit against the village by another resident passionate about this issue.