Position for which you are a candidate: Gail Borden Public Library Trustee

I am seeking re-election to the GBPL Board of Trustees for many reasons, but most of all, it has been a tremendous honor to volunteer my time for the last four years, as a steward of one of the most valued and essential organizations in the greater Elgin community. Now more than ever, we need a safe, convenient, welcoming, and fun place for all residents to come together to celebrate community.

In my first term as a Trustee, I’ve focused on using my years of work experience in libraries to ask questions and make decisions about the library’s spending, policies, and priorities. I feel a strong sense of duty and care to uphold the fiscal responsibility and transparency for which the Board is tasked, and celebrate the library’s commitment to ethical, compassionate, community-centered values as set in the district’s culture statement. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with the current Trustees and the library staff and I fully support my colleagues Joy Symonds and Elisa Lara for re-election on April 1, 2025.

What experience and background do you have which qualifies you for this position?

When I ran for election in 2021, I shared with voters my extensive library experience that makes me a prepared candidate for Trustee. I spent nine years working in two local public library districts. That public facing and behind the scenes work history gives me a solid understanding of how libraries spend their funding to provide essential services to their community, and the impact they have on the very deserving residents they serve.

My first four-year term as a Trustee, with two years spent as the Treasurer, has been full of regular business and exciting projects! As a Trustee, I’m entrusted to carefully consider and vote on the annual operating budget, tax levy, financial audits, library and personnel policies, facilities projects, etc. I’m proud of the staff for their diligence and keen fiscal planning, which has historically resulted in balanced budgets as well as the ability to proactively make repairs and replacements to major building systems and IT equipment. And when the library was awarded a federal grant of $2.4M but were unable to use it for the South Elgin Branch renovation, they were able to pivot and cover the costs with reserves. I’ve also supported the push for live streaming our Board meetings and tasked the CEO with creating a formal succession plan. My work isn’t done yet and I hope to be a Trustee once more.

What will be your highest priorities if elected?

My priorities as a candidate and if elected, have been and always will be, to ensure fiscal accountability and equitable access to services, and to advocate for the needs of the community. They are the central and most crucial areas of focus for Trustees for public organizations. I am a passionate library champion and long-time Elgin resident, eager to keep doing my part for a community I love. Please vote candidates 3, 4, and 5 on the April 1 ballot. Symonds, Prochot, Lara.

I will participate in the candidate meet & greet: