A: I have always tried to help other people. Most of the organizations I join I end up being asked to be in a leadership role. I started going to the meetings, and they ended up getting an expansion. When an opening came up for my County Board seat, members of the County Board and the Democratic Party called me and asked me if I would run for County Board. I don’t look at leadership as an ability to wear a badge and have a title. It does come with it, and it does give you some ability to get some things done, but what has always gotten me to that point is working with other people. Finding out what it is that you want and what can we work on together works best. We need to find the common ground and pursue that.
Q: What is the most important change that needs to happen in this community?
A: We need to bring jobs to the city. Good paying jobs. I do think that jobs would also impact the students at NIU because there are a lot of students who are struggling, and there are issues with food insecurity. Also, building retail doesn’t work unless there’s somebody to spend money at that retail, which is why it goes back to my opinion to needing good quality, paying jobs.
