Wayne trustee hopefuls spell out qualifications

Candidates seeking three 4-year trustee posts on the Wayne village board have outlined their reasons for running in the April 4 election and what qualities they would bring to the position if elected.

Incumbents Michael Anastasio, Michael Dimitroff and Ann Tigges each hope to win another term on the board; challengers Shawn Hilton, Jim Lorenz, Patrick O'Brien and Kathleen O'Rourke also are seeking seats.

Lorenz, a small-business owner who has lived in the village for 20 years, wants increased transparency on the village board, along with accountability. He noted that he had to file a Freedom of Information Act request recently just to get an information packet for an upcoming village board meeting.

Lorenz says have loves the town and community, but "I feel like it's slipping a bit."

O'Brien, an equipment manager and freelance technician, said he wants to give a voice to the residents and strengthen the village's sense of community. O'Brien, who volunteers for the Wayne Historic Preservation Society and Wayne/DuPage Hunt Club, also says the village's finances will be a key area going forward.

"Budgeting is a very critical thing right now, everywhere," O'Brien said. "Things cost a lot of money and there's not a lot of money to go around."

O'Rourke, a manager at a nonprofit who also has a master's degree in urban planning, wants to preserve the village as a place to raise a family while strengthening communication and ties between residents.

"We can do better with pulling together our community," O'Rourke said.

Hilton could not be reached for comment.

Anastasio is an attorney and business owner who was elected to the board eight years ago. He points to service on the board and organizing fundraising events as ways he has given back to the community and notes he was the Wayne Citizen of the Year in 2015.

"I've always had a life of public service where I've helped people," Anastasio said. "My whole life has been built around serving other people."

Dimitroff, a sales manager who has served on the village board since 2014, said he has tried to listen as a trustee and make decisions based upon what is good for the community as a whole.

"Being on the village board is my way of giving back to the community," Dimitroff said. "I just want to keep Wayne a nice place to raise a family."

Tigges, a trustee since 2005 and former plan commission member who has a career in sales, has expanded her role in serving the village to include being a commission member on the O'Hare Noise Compatibility Commission to deal with flight noise.

"I try to see the big picture needs of the village and represent the concerns of all citizens," Tigges said.