Kathy Cornell: 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: Glen EllynWebsite: www.cornellmayowilson.comOffice sought: Glen Ellyn Park Board Age: 67Family: Daughters - Amy and Amanda. Both grew up in Glen Ellyn and participated in Park District activities Grandchildren - Ages 30 months and 12 monthsOccupation: FundraiserEducation: Cornell University: B.S. - Human Development and Family Studies Northern Illinois University: M Ed - Elementary Education University of Chicago: Doctoral Studies - Educational PsychologyCivic involvement: Glen Ellyn Park District Commissioner, 2011 - Present Glen Ellyn Sustainability Group - 2014 - Present Citizens for Glen Ellyn Preservation Board, 2008 - Present Village Theatre Guild of Glen Ellyn: Have served as director, producer, playbill editor, crew, board member and newsletter editor over a period of 30 years Fox Valley Repertory Board, 2008 - Present Organic Theater Company Board, 2005 - Present Cornell University Club of Chicago Board, 2008 - Present Cornell University Council, 2010 - PresentElected offices held: Glen Ellyn Park District CommissionerQuestions Answers What programs aren't paying for themselves? Would you keep, eliminate or change them? How and why?Some of the most important and engaging offerings of the Glen Ellyn Park District are made available to the entire community without charge. Fourth of July festivities have always been a favorite of my family. We all agree the essence of Glen Ellyn shines around the parade, the family activities at Lake Ellyn Park, the beautiful fireworks at the lake, the morning race, the Cardboard Boat Regatta - the Park District staff members and volunteers are active in making these activities successful and available to everyone. Free movies at the parks, ice skating whenever weather permits, the Arts Festival in August, all of these and more contribute to the quality of life within the Glen Ellyn Park District area. I would consider looking for sponsors for some of these activities, but I would not eliminate them as they bring us together and provide lifelong memories for families and friends.Is there any additional open space the park district needs to acquire? Please describe.The Park District participated in a recent study by the DuPage Conservation Foundation which reviewed potential property that would provide opportunity for open space. Glen Ellyn was included and some possible locations were identified. The Park District is always open to strategically adding additional green space particularly in areas where we seem to be lacking. Unfortunately, nothing has come about recently that has been ideally located or affordable, but I encourage looking at appropriate opportunities as they arise.Are there any unmet recreational needs? If yes, what are they and how would you propose paying for them? Or, should they wait until the economy improves?As our planning evolves, I would like to review the offerings we have for active adults and seniors. Programs for seniors are kept at an affordable price, which we are able to sustain as an important service to the community. I would like to see expansion of this programming as our budgeting allows. Ackerman Sports and Fitness Center has created a range of programs geared to active adults and will continue to expand that programming. In the area of special trips, we have partnered with nearby Park Districts in cooperative programs. Partnerships reduce the costs, and decrease the number of Glen Ellyn participants needed to register in order for the program to occur. Based on past success, the District hopes to expand its offerings. Other areas would include weekend programs geared to those families who have challenges signing up for classes during the week. A good example of this is for the 2015 summer, the Park District outdoor tennis program will have expanded Saturday offerings. This programming would be self-supporting.Would you support sharing/pooling resources (i.e. printing, vehicles) with other local governments (school districts, village, etc.)? If so, what areas would you consider combining or merging to save money or improve efficiency?Definitely yes. As I mentioned earlier, we are partnering with other Park Districts for joint "field trips." Another good example is the cooperative effort regarding the Park District and Village combining efforts on the Bike to Metra publication. The two agencies partnered on a grant that funded a brochure advocating biking to the Glen Ellyn Metra train station. The Park District partners with the Village on tree purchasing, fuel and road salt. We would certainly be open on additional shared services that are mutually beneficial. We also rent space from the local high schools for some programming, and they rent space from us. We are preparing to enter an agreement with two other park districts to share the services of an IT professional. This arrangement will allow us to have the services we need at a cost we can afford. Another good example is the great relationship we have developed with the Village of Glendale Heights. We often exchange maintenance equipment, allowing the use of equipment that one agency doesn't have, saving valuable dollars for both.If you are a newcomer, what prompted you to run for the park board? If you're an incumbent, list your accomplishments or key initiatives in which you played a leadership role.Early on, I was very involved in hiring our new executive director. I have emphasized careful spending and long-term planning, putting us in sound financial condition and resulting in upgrading to the AA+ rating, excellent for a park district. Transparency efforts have included seeking more input from residents during planning, and we now share the board's meetings via live streaming and website archiving. We received the Sunshine Award for transparency, a rare accomplishment. One of my most important priorities is the improvement of our unique and beautiful Lake Ellyn Park to minimize storm water challenges, create new opportunities for native plants to emerge and mature, and safeguard the sustainability of this beloved community treasure. Key to me is restoration of the Boathouse in a historically sensitive manner, appropriate for its local significance. I served on the committee that selected the strong consulting team, planning for the future. The Master Plan has been carefully created, with community input. Because of careful financial stewardship, plus a $400,000 OSLAD grant, we are moving forward with this beneficial long-term project. I was an initiator of the new "Adopt-A-Park" program, and helped create a collaboration with Landscape Design classes at the College of DuPage, resulting in a garden at Lake Foxcroft Park.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I am excited to be running for commissioner with Gary Mayo and Chris Wilson. Our business experiences, community involvement and skills are complementary. We believe we have much to offer that will benefit our Park District well into the future. We have made terrific progress in putting our finances on solid footing, watching carefully all expenditures to make sure that every reasonable efficiency is achieved. It is important that we continue to maintain transparency in the work we do, and to seek input from residents as we shape decisions and policies going forward. Top priorities include excellent maintenance of our parks and facilities - including everything from playing fields to buildings - and outstanding quality and variety in the classes and recreational activities we offer. These standards may seem obvious, but it is important that we continue to emphasize them. I am personally committed to doing everything we can to maintain and improve our open spaces for enjoyment by the entire community. Areas that are used for passive recreation - for unstructured leisure activities such as walking trails, open areas for family gatherings, picnics with neighbors, places to relax and enjoy a lovely outdoor environment - these are important to residents whether or not they are involved in team sports, classes or organized activities. I am committed to maintaining a healthy urban forest; the trees in our parks contribute to a healthy and beautiful community. We have planted over 100 trees in the past year through an economical purchasing arrangement.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Senator Mark Kirk's determination and courage in recovering from his stroke demonstrate what can be accomplished by an individual who refuses to give up.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?We were a close-knit family and I learned from my parents' example to do the right thing because it is the right thing to do.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would do over some minor things, but nothing major. I would have continued karate classes that I took in my thirties, very healthy activity.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Human Development - It gave me a deep and useful appreciation of individuals in relation to each other in family, community and business.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?I trust in my children's values, so my advice has been this: Be your own true self with all your might.