Nora Baxtrom: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Nora Wernette Baxtrom

City: Elmhurst

Office sought: Park District Board Commissioner

Age: 31

Family: Husband, Kevin. Son, Luke (15-months).

Occupation: Principal of Market Analytics at Exelon Corporation. Exelon is a Fortune 100 company and the nation's leading competitive energy provider. The Market Analytics team supports Exelon's Generation Innovation and Strategy. I hope to leverage my 10-year career and expertise in energy strategy and renewable energy on the Park Board to further sustainability efforts in the community.

Education:

• MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business with concentrations in Economics and Strategic Management

• Bachelor of Science in Advertising from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Proud York Duke, Bryan Demon, and Lincoln Lion!

Civic involvement:

Elmhurst Newcomers & Neighbors Club

Volunteer with Big Shoulders Foundation

Chicago Public Library Junior Board

(Previous) Elmhurst Girls' Y-Ball Coach

(Previous) WITS reading mentor in Chicago Public Schools

Incumbent? If yes, when were you first elected? No

Website: www.nora4elmhurstparks.com

Facebook: Nora Wernette Baxtrom for Elmhurst Park District Commissioner

Issue questions

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

Indoor and outdoor space are large constraints for the Park District. Indoor facility space that meets the needs of the community is especially critical to ensuring that Elmhurst attracts new residents, retains retirees, and showcases our community to visitors. Residents would like a new Senior Center and Indoor Sports Complex. Both of these facilities would serve large portions of our community and help further the Park District's mission to "enrich lives while having fun!" I believe that intergovernmental cooperation is important in developing and operating such facilities. As Commissioner, I will be committed to working alongside the city and other governmental agencies to implement the community's vision and I will work to explore a variety of funding options including private partnerships, sponsorship, rentals, and grants. I will also seek to re-purpose and extend the use of existing indoor facility space to help meet interim needs.

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.

I grew up in Elmhurst and love the community. After a frustrating experience with the Park District's online registration system, I began researching the board and discovered that even though there are many diverse viewpoints represented on the board, none of the existing board members represent young families. As a mom to a 15-month old, I decided to run to give back to the community that shaped me and to give a voice to young families. As an outsider to the Park Board and ardent user of the parks and Park District programs, I believe I have a unique, independent perspective and I look forward to representing the interests of other Park District users.

Which programs aren't paying for themselves? Would you keep, eliminate or change them? How and why?

The Park District's enterprise facilities and programs generate revenue; however, taxpayers do not fund direct operational costs. These facilities include The Courts Plus, Wilder Mansion, and Sugar Creek Golf Course. While The Courts Plus has been a fantastic source of revenue for the Park District for many years, the emergence of many private fitness clubs in the area is introducing competition and straining revenue forecasts from the Courts. Sugar Creek Golf Course continues to be an attractive asset for the Park District, however, weather issues make it difficult to achieve steady revenues year-over-year. As a Commissioner, I will advocate for the Park District to reevaluate the pricing structures, classes/lessons, programming, and amenities at both of these facilities to broaden their user base and expand their functionality during periods of low use.

Is there any additional open space the park district needs to acquire? Please describe.

With many new homes, condos, and apartments in Elmhurst, parks will play an even more critical role for residents seeking open green space. I believe the Park District has done an excellent job acquiring properties adjacent to existing parks to expand the footprint and functionality of those parks. Additionally, the Park District recently purchased two large properties in an effort to further the 2016 Community Needs Assessment: property on Old York Road (OS761 Old York Road) for a potential dog park and the property at 135 Palmer Drive adjacent to Glos Memorial Park. I hope to see these larger properties developed according to the community survey priorities. As a Commissioner, I will advocate for the Park District to continue with strategic acquisitions to expand park footprints as attractive opportunities arise while balancing taxpayer money.

Are there any unmet recreational needs? If yes, what are they and how would you propose paying for them?

The District's Vision 2020 survey in 2016 revealed needs for a senior center, dog park, and indoor sports complex. I believe the entire community would benefit from all three of these projects; however, the initial funding and ongoing facility maintenance required is not feasible within the existing budget. I want the Park District to collaborate more closely with the City of Elmhurst, District 205, Elmhurst Public Library, Edward-Elmhurst Health, Elmhurst College, local volunteer organizations, and the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce to accomplish all three of these opportunities in the upcoming years.

I have also spoken with leaders of local sports leagues and believe that the addition of field lighting and surface upgrades will help extend the hours and dates of use for outdoor facilities driving more revenue and visitors to Elmhurst. With numerous soccer and baseball leagues vying for field time, lighting and field improvements will allow for later practices in the early spring and late fall as well as more playable days following large rain events. To fund such measures, I support a gradual phased-in funding approach involving sponsorship, advertising, and fundraisers.