Caroline Milne: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Caroline Milne

City: Tower Lakes

Office sought: Trustee

Family: Husband Andrew, two children - Harrison and Jack

Occupation: Science Teacher at Barrington High School

Education: Augustana College, IL; Roosevelt University, IL; National Louis University, IL; Washington University in St. Louis, MO

Community involvement: Tower Lakes Events Committee; Tower Lakes Youth Committee; Tower Lakes Communications Committee; Citizens for Conservation Member; North Barrington PTO Member

Incumbent? No

Website: www.VoteTL3.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vote-TL3

Twitter: @MrsMilneBiology

Issue questions

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

We must look at ways to improve safety and increase the communication amongst all members of the village.

There is a strong sense of community in Tower Lakes, more so than anywhere else I have lived. That said, with recent changes in demographics and an influx of new families moving in, it is important to build upon the efforts of the past and continue moving the community forward. We need to ensure the community evolves. We can not stand still. To do this, we need to make sure that our communications databases are regularly updated, and effectively executed to reach all residents. Effective, efficient communication is the first step toward ensuring community safety. We need to create opportunities for our community to grow together. The outlying neighborhoods of Tower Lakes and the young households raising families need representation on the board. We want all stakeholders represented and their voices heard.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

As an educator, I plan my curriculum with an end goal in mind. On a daily basis I have to bring my students together and work to the best of my abilities to get them all to our end goal. It takes confident and effective leadership and implementation of best practices to unify a group of unique individuals. I do this while taking into account different ages, backgrounds, cultural beliefs and ability. I see this as a strength; one which makes me a strong candidate. My community work, and friendship circles within Tower Lakes range from new families to those who have been established here for many years and include people with different political views and varying backgrounds. My ability to not only find common ground with many different families, but topics that create unity and a shared passion will allow me to connect with a wide range of visions for Tower Lakes. Especially our shared goal-the betterment of Tower Lakes, a place which we all love.

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 am a positive and collaborative leader. I facilitate group unity and encourage productive discussions. I am a great, empathic listener. I believe I can relate to many perspectives and points of view. I am thoughtful and reflective in my decision making. I seek input from all angles- both pros and cons, before finalizing a decision or drawing conclusions. I am task oriented and effectively and efficiently accomplish goals.

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?

Residents of Tower Lakes have benefited from the diligence of previous board members who have kept balanced budgets. However, while we must continue to maintain and develop existing assets and initiatives, it is imperative that we explore and embrace those which have allowed other communities to thrive - where others have not. Take our roads for example, I think it's time to start looking at strategies adopted by fiscally responsible local communities and incorporate their successes into our road resurfacing projects. This strategy can be expanded as needed for other improvements.

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

For years, community members have discussed what to do with our historic one-room schoolhouse on Route 59. It has been neglected for too long and listening to conversations from the community we should start to invest in this property. Tower Lakes would greatly benefit from a community-focused meeting place, somewhere where we can come together for informal gatherings, celebrations and meetings. The existing site of the old one-room school house has the potential to serve this function and Chrissie Mena, Randy Spiess and I bring a fresh energy to the table that could see this project happen.