Maria Sinkule: 2021 candidate for Addison mayor
Two candidates are running for a 4-year term as Addison mayor.
Bio
City: Addison
Age: 37
Occupation: School social worker
Employer: Local School District
Civic involvement: Addison Public Library Board President for the past year and half and Trustee for the past four years
Q&A
Q: How do you view your role in confronting the pandemic: provide leadership even if unpopular, give a voice to constituents - even ones with whom you disagree, or defer to state and federal authorities?
A: As the mayor, I will maintain transparency by communicating with the community and continuously informing everyone about CDC and Illinois Department of Public Health's health guidelines. Guidelines should be communicated to everyone including the requirement of wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing, and now with the appearance of the new variants, the recommendation for double masking. COVID-19 has revealed racial disparities that have an impact on our community. Our community needs relief and resources that are accessible to everyone.
Through partnerships with local community organizations, our community can help create access to vaccination opportunities for everyone. In DuPage County, the COVID-19 infection rate is around 10,508 cases per 100,000 Hispanic residents, and 4,496 per 100,000 non-Hispanic residents, the DuPage County Health Department reports. Although numbers have remain stable, it is important that we also utilize CARES funding to ensure everyone has access to the vaccine.
Q: Did your town continue to adequately serve its constituents during the disruptions caused by the pandemic? If so, please cite an example of how it successfully adjusted to providing services. If not, please cite a specific example of what could have been done better.
A: Our local community has offered access to food and COVID-19 testing. Our local government can and should continue to do better. Not only has our community experienced a high COVID-19 positivity rates, but the community also has experienced unemployment, food insecurity, lack of access to financial funding sources, and is in need of vaccination efforts. Our community recently had a vaccination effort where several local intergovernmental agencies collaborated. Unfortunately, many individuals in the Latino community were left out of the vaccination efforts.
Targeted vaccination efforts should be included in the community outreach. Latinos should be heard, elevated, and supported. Outreach such as setting registration tables for vaccination efforts in the community is an important step in helping and saving lives. In addition to vaccination efforts, constituents need access to job opportunities. Job opportunities in our community need to be inclusive to diverse people especially in leadership roles like department head jobs. Employment efforts need to include developing leadership in local roles.
Q: In light of our experiences with COVID-19, what safeguards/guidelines should you put in place to address any future public health crises?
A: It is important to follow CDC guidelines and monitor local metrics to ensure our community is safe and healthy. Additionally, partnerships should be created with the DuPage County Health Department in order to support vaccination efforts in the community. As we move on to the following phases for the vaccine, vaccination sites should be setup in the community that are accessible to everyone. Barriers such as transportation could be minimized if more sites are open within the community. Intergovernmental support will create this access and support that is very much needed. Efforts should include mobile vaccination clinics to increase access.
Q: What cuts can local government make to reduce the burden of the pandemic on taxpayers?
A: Recently, the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the Village of Addison for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2019. This was the 33rd consecutive year that the village has received this award. The Village of Addison has a total net position increased by $4,225,383 or 2.94% during the fiscal year ending April 30, 2020. Governmental net position increased $4,155,398 or 4.63% Business-type net position increased $69,985 or 0.13%. The Village of Addison has not made any cuts. The Village of Addison should consider reducing taxes to ease the burden constituents are experiencing during the pandemic. This is important to help reduce the tax burden for individuals who are unemployed, are on disability, and/or living at or below poverty level.
Q: What do you see as the most important infrastructure project you must address? Why and how should it be paid for? Conversely, during these uncertain economic times, what infrastructure project can be put on the back burner?
A: During this fiscal year, the Village of Addison is planning on Porter Pipe will complete their $6 million expansion project to add 62,000 sq. ft. to their office and warehouse space, Phase three of The Enclave at Mill Creek subdivision -The Townes of Mill Creek will be started in FY 2021, the annexation of properties at the intersection of Route 53 and Lake Street will move forward, an internet sales and delivery company is looking to add a delivery center on the west end of the village, construction on the Preserve at Oak Meadows expects to be completed mid FY 2021, new financial software implementation will continue, the village sold land that was previously the Driscoll High School property to Pulte Builders which includes detached single family home development starting in the mid $300,000 range will be built and the village purchased the vacant Lutherbrook facility. What is left out in this plan, is creating affordable housing for individuals in the community. Home buying opportunities are severely limited for Black and Latinx families in our community. This can include creating an Inclusionary Housing Ordinance.
Q: Do you plan to address businesses that don't adhere to the governor's order to close or restrict business?
A: It is important that all businesses follow current CDC rules and the Governor's orders. If businesses do not follow orders that are in place, we are only hurting our community. Businesses need to adhere to our Governor's orders. If businesses do not adhere, they will face restrictions.
Q: Do you agree or disagree with the stance your board has taken on permitting recreational marijuana sales in the community? What would you change about that stance, if you could?
A: The Village of Addison currently had two dispensaries. These dispensaries have created revenue for our community. I agree with the stance the village has taken by permitting recreation marijuana sales in the community.
Q: Describe your leadership style and explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board or city council.
A: Leadership qualities should consist adaptability, self-awareness, change management, integrity, humility, empowerment, and empathy. A leader should be able to adapt to meet the community and employee needs. Leaders need to be able to adapt to quick changes and embrace the change in real-time. Self-awareness of our own strengths and weaknesses is a key quality every leader needs. Leaders need to be intentional in order to successfully lead. Additionally, leaders need to be flexible, willing to adapt, able to move forward despite setback, and model these skills as a leader. Leaders need to honor commitment and discern decision making.
By having humility, leaders will be eager to listen which can lead to avoiding mistakes. Leaders need to be able to look ahead, empower employees and the community in order to move ahead with changes that can help a community. Lastly, leaders need to be empathic. Leaders need to build connections, respect everyone, and develop trust with the community and its members. These are all important qualities leaders should possess to create effective change.
Q: What makes you the best candidate for the job?
A: During my four years on the library board, I have been committed to the needs of my community. We have offered numerous services which also included the creation of a social service position within the library. This position has provided connection to resources and opportunities that community members never had before. In addition to my leadership on the library board, I served as the president of the Illinois Association of School Social Workers for two-years. Through my leadership, we have been able to support and advocate for legislation that impacts my community.
Additionally, I have worked in our community for 13 years as a school social worker. I have been able to work alongside my community as an advocate. I am running for Mayor of Addison to help build an equitable, inclusive, and stronger Addison community. Together with the community, I want to help Addison become a place where everyone is welcomed, and it is open for all people.
Q: What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?
A: During the last town hall meeting in 2020, a constituent asked what Addison is doing to become a diverse local government, representative of the community. We need to encourage and support more leaders of color. In order to do this, the village needs to create and implement a racial equity committee that can assist with building an infrastructure to support and sustain systemic change. We need to continue to connect and support the diversity of our community on issues that are important to them.