Sean Oskerka: 2025 candidate for Des Plaines City Council Ward 3

Bio

Office sought: Des Plaines City Council Ward 3

City: Des Plaines

Age: 44

Occupation: Emergency room nurse

Previous offices held: Des Plaines 3rd Ward Alderman since 2021

What is the most serious issue your community will face in the coming years and how should the city council respond to it?

The most serious problem facing Des Plaines is an aging water system including water mains and lead line services. These two things alone tie up millions of dollars and control what streets get redone and when. When the aging pipes break we start to see streets flood. This forces us to tear up streets and we have to spend money that may not have been planned for that area.

We need to continue fixing what is under the streets any time we have planned road construction to help save emergency costs down the road. This will ease the burden of emergency expenses in the future.

How would you describe the state of your community's finances? What should be the top priorities for spending during the next few years? Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed?

The City of Des Plaines is in the best financial health it has been in for over 20 years. We have a balanced budget and by 2028 the city will be debt free. For the first time in a long time, we can really begin to reinvest in our city. We need to invest more in infrastructure like water mains and aging city properties like the fire houses.

We can also finally afford to partner with businesses to help grow the downtown and Oakton corridor. We need to be smart where and when we spend so we do not put ourselves back into the red as we have in the past. It’s important to learn for those lessons and grow.

What do you see as the most important infrastructure project the community must address? Why and how should it be paid for? Conversely, during these uncertain economic times, what project(s) can be put on the back burner?

As noted above, one of the most important infrastructure projects we need to be proactive about is the aging water system we have. We need to be aggressive in replacement to prevent problems like flooding streets and boil orders. Being aggressive under the roads will allow us to also change things like adding/widening sidewalks, adding bike paths, and fixing roads that need it.

It’s a project that can have a huge upside if done correctly. We can help finance this by seeing what state grants are available and making sure we budget for replacement every year. With the city paying off other debt obligations by 2028, we will be able to put more casino revenue toward projects like this without raising taxes.

With the current economic situation I would suggest that we take a good look at any project that currently has or will have federal funding in the next few years to make sure that those funds exist and are still going to be coming to us. We need to make sure we are spending responsibly.

Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach an agreement and manage local government? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your city council.

Active listening and good communication skills are my two keys to working in a group to set policy and make effective changes. Talking out ideas and being willing to compromise help in discussions. It’s impossible to know what people are thinking until they have a chance to speak. Asking questions to help understand others ideas and to make sure that I really grasp the vision being brought to the table.

Finally asking the public for ideas and genuinely taking those ideas into consideration helps make an effective government. Everyone should have a say in what goes on and every voice should be heard.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

As a nurse, I spend my day listening and talking to many different people in various stages of life. I feel this allows me to better understand what people are going through and the best way to help them. I try hard to provide people with updates and answer as many questions as I can.

I don't always have an answer they want to hear but they will get a straight answer from me with an explanation of what is going on and why. I will always listen and continue to learn from new interactions.

What’s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?

Walking map of downtown placed at major intersections and by major attractions. A list of stores, restaurants, bicycle paths, green spaces, forest preserve trails and things for people to go see like murals or various points of interest.

I would like to see paper or digital maps using a QR code for people to use while walking around. The QR codes can provide info about businesses or attractions with history provided by the history center.