Liza Gutierrez: 2023 candidate for Hanover Park Village Board trustee

Bio

Town: Hanover Park

Age on Election Day: 47

Occupation: Social Services, director of Immigrant Programs

Employer: POC

Previous offices held: Village trustee, Hanover Park.

Q&A

Q: What is the most serious issue your community will face in the coming years and how should the city council or village board respond to it?

A: Infrastructure in Hanover Park needs to be addressed. When surveyed, our residents have serious concerns about our streets. This is directly tied to our water systems as well. Our water systems have aged and need to be replaced for the safety of everyone in our town. This means that we have to fix our streets, but at the same time address the water systems under those streets.

Q: How would you describe the state of your community's finances?

A: We are doing rather well in the village. We have set a goal of our reserve and have surpassed that. Staff have been directed by the board to seek out grants to pay for projects if possible.

Q: What should be the three top priorities for spending in your community during the next four years?

A: Streets: (which is directly tied to our water systems) will be a continuous priority for the health of our village. Broadband/WI-FI: This growing area needs to be addressed, and brought up to date so that our residents have access to broadband across town. Invest in attracting and keeping both large and small business as well as community development that focuses on single family homes.

Q: Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed? If so, what are they?

A: We have been dutiful in ensuring that our departments are not wasting funds as is evident by the fact that we haven't raised taxes. However, extending the life of fleet vehicles an extra year may help us save even more money.

Q: What do you see as the most important infrastructure project the community must address? Why and how should it be paid for? Conversely, during these uncertain economic times, what project(s) can be put on the back burner?

A: According to our resident surveyed, our streets are most important. Our streets are tied directly to the health of our water as these services run under these streets. We must focus on making our streets a priority and ensuring that our water infrastructure is up to date. At this time there are no other large capital projects that are being paid with tax payers funding.

Q: Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach agreement and manage local government? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board or city council.

A: Teamwork is in my DNA. I come from a rather large family. In my daily work, I work with a team. It is this team that works that brings about consensus, new ideas, new perspectives and best practices for solving problems. While I hold tightly to many of my believes, it is by listening to others that I learn the most and come to a consensus. As a current trustee, actively listening to what our residents have to say, our board and other stakeholders is what has made an for a positive impact in our policies.

Q: What makes you the best candidate for the job?

A: I bring a voice that is otherwise missing in our board. As an educated and experienced Latina working in social services, I am well aware of the humanitarian needs in our community. I can speak to the challenges that our town faces as a Global Village while bringing boots on the ground knowledge on best practices. My over 20 years of experience entails working in building teams that are compromised of local government, nonprofit, educational, religious organizations and local businesses to improve the life of residents.

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

A: Taste of Hanover Park! Let's show case the many cultures and tastes of our Global Village. We have the perfect are in the Ontarioville area. Also, put our Governors Home into the Illinois Historic Registrar. This is the older house in town and we need to ensure that it here for the next generations.