Lindenhurst trustee candidates explain why you should vote for them
The candidates for the Lindenhurst village board cited political experience and personal investment in the community among the reasons why they feel they're best for the job.
Six people are running for three seats with 4-year terms in the April 2 election. They're divided into two slates.
Incumbents Dawn Czarny, Patrick John Dunham and Heath Rosten are running as the Lindenhurst Best Choice slate. They're led by incumbent mayoral candidate Dominic Marturano.
Stacey Kramer, Trak Patel and Cassandra Slade are newcomers running as the Lindenhurst United for Change slate. They're led by mayoral candidate Ryan Brandes.
The candidates talked about their qualifications and other topics in questionnaires for the Daily Herald.
Czarny, who works as a finance manager, said her professional experience helping business owners make decisions is a strength.
"As a trustee for the village of Lindenhurst, I will continue to employ this fact-based decision-making process while considering the impact to residents," said Czarny, a trustee since 2015.
Dunham, a trustee since 2007 who also served on the board from 1997 to 2001, said that political experience makes him the best candidate.
"(It) has provided me with the necessary skills to understand village operations," he said.
Dunham also said his experience as an information technology project manager and as a master chief petty officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve "provides me with the ability to offer alternatives to the standard way of running a government entity."
Kramer, a gun-control activist and local volunteer, said she's the best candidate because she patronizes local businesses and has strong relationships with her neighbors.
"I share many of the same concerns about what it takes for our village to be even stronger and more vibrant than it already is, and I will work hard for those visions to become reality," Kramer said.
Patel, a certified public accountant and a former member of the Millburn Elementary District 24 school board, touted his financial experience.
"I served on the school board just after the financial crisis and was involved in bringing the school to financial stability," he said.
Rosten, a sales manager with Rust-Oleum, said he's the best candidate running because he's "fully invested and engaged in Lindenhurst."
"I have a real understanding of the community and residents that I represent," said Rosten, who was appointed to the board in 2017. "I will be a taxpayer in this village for many years to come, and I want to make certain that I do my part to keep Lindenhurst on a path of growth that will provide opportunities for my family and neighbors."
Slade, a senior vice president with Wintrust Financial who also serves on the Millburn school board, touted her work with developers who see opportunities in Lindenhurst.
"(It's) exciting to know that developers see the vibrancy of our community and a robust future for appropriate development," she said.