Marge Earl: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Marge Earl

City: Downers Grove

Office sought: Mayor

Age: 54

Family: Husband Ed, Daughter Kate, three rescue pups

Occupation: Village Council Member

Education: Registered Nurse

Civic involvement: Ad Hoc Commission for Affordable Housing 2007-8, Zoning Board of Appeals 2007-2016, Comprehensive Plan Commission 2010, Comprehensive Plan Update Commission 2016, Director of the Pierce Downers Heritage Alliance 2012-present.

Previous elected offices held: current Village Council member

Incumbent? No

Facebook: Marge for Mayor

Twitter: @DGMarge

Issue questions

* What are the most important issues facing your community and how do you intend to address them?

Committed to building a new police station and village hall with no increase in taxes, having just approved a new development plan in December 2018.

Continue to address stormwater issues, especially as caused by new development, having just approved new regulations in 2018, continue to monitor the success of those regulations. Look to develop opportunities with the county and other communities to leverage tax dollars spent for maximum effectiveness.

Introduced legislation to ban the sale of "puppy mill" dogs, cats and rabbits in the village in 2018, look to pass this legislation in early 2019.

Seek the most cost effective opportunities to increase parking in our downtown.

* What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I have committed the last 12 years to serving the Village of Downers Grove, 10 years of it as a volunteer. I have participated in over 500 village meetings in that time, and as a result have a vast knowledge of the village and its issues.

* Describe your leadership style and explain how you think that will be effective in producing actions and decisions with your village board or city council.

I look to build consensus, to move along important issues in the village, and to address residents concerns as quickly as possible.

* How would you describe the condition of your community's budget, and what are the most important specific actions the town should take to assure providing the level of services people want?

The Village operations budget has had no increase in 10 years, with no decrease in service levels. I am proud of this trend and intend to continue to fight to keep taxes flat and service levels high.

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

TREES! Increasing public investment in trees has a great return. It beautifies a community while helping to manage stormwater and purifying the air. Our town has taken a hit in the last 25 years, we have lost a lot of our mature trees to disease and insects infestation. A larger number of trees, in a wider variety species, need to be planted to make up for the losses that have been sustained over the years.