Hanover Park Trustee Shahjahan to run again, declines spot on mayor's slate
Hanover Park Village Trustee Sharmin Shahjahan will run for reelection on the April 6 ballot, but not as part of the Hanover Park Strong slate organized by Mayor Rod Craig.
"I've done a lot of good work in my first four years as trustee and would like to continue to serve the community," Shahjahan said. "Mayor Craig asked me to run on his slate, but with (Trustee) Rick (Roberts) and (Village Clerk) Eira (Corral Sepulveda) leaving the board, I did not know all the candidates on the slate and I felt more comfortable running independently, as I did last time. This gives voters an opportunity to assess each candidate."
Shahjahan said her decision not to join the slate has not created any tension on the village board.
"I hope to continue to provide transparent and effective oversight, strengthen partnerships, and bring family focused amenities to Hanover Park," she added.
Shahjahan said her background in finance and marketing brings analytical expertise to the board. She also sought to create sustainable partnerships with other government and community agencies serving the village.
"As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic hitting small businesses and residents, and the state borrowing up to $5 billion to balance its budget, funding sources are tightening and we will need to look for creative solutions," she said. "Public-private partnerships will need to become the norm."
In addition to Craig, the Hanover Park Strong slate includes incumbent Trustee Bob Prigge and newcomers Tonya Frosheiser and Syed Hussaini running for 4-year trustee terms, Liza Gutierrez seeking a 2-year trustee term to complete the term she was previously appointed to, and Kristy Merrill for village clerk.
Newcomer Yasmeen Bankole, an outreach coordinator in U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin's Chicago office, also is running for a 4-year trustee term.