PROGRESS OVER POLITICS BECAUSE PROGRESS MATTERS!

ENDORSEMENT- Let's Continue the Progress NOT go back to the Politics!

By Steve LaRock

SAUK VILLAGER NEWS

With the early voting ending Monday Sauk Village residents are urged to RUN... do not walk to the polls! You can get a head start on Tuesday's Municipal Elections by going to vote at the Lynwood Senior-Youth Center at 21490 Lincoln Highway, Lynwood, IL 9am - 5pm, This Monday, April 1st is the last day... and that is no April Fool's joke!  If you are not registered to vote, you will need 2 forms of identification; one with your current address on it and you will be able to register AND VOTE the same day!  You will not be able to register and vote on Election Day Tuesday, April 2nd; you must do so on Monday or you miss the boat!  Voters will be going to their local polling places Tuesday from 6am to 7pm Tuesday, April 2nd

Sauk Village has come a long way in just 2 short years under the leadership of Mayor Derrick Burgess.  We have come from the prior administration's "forward motions" which were really backward politics with a big case of do nothing for 8 long years.  Mayor Burgess promised CHANGE in 2017 and he certainly has delivered on that commitment thanks to Trustees Beth Zupon and Ronald Carter.  Zupon, Carter and newcomer Arnold Coleman embrace the Village's Strategic Plan for Progress and the new 2019 Comprehensive Plan.  

The opponents running for election and challenging Mayor Burgess are politically and personally motivated and they offer no plan of their own but are clearly about stopping Progress for Sauk Village, and frankly that's not good for residents.   

Beth Zupon, Ronald Carter and Arnold Coleman

BETH ZUPON, RONALD CARTER AND ARNOLD COLEMAN!  These three are TRUE "Independent candidates" who are the People United for Progress.  Willing to investigate and research each proposal before voting and doing the job to make sure that Sauk Village stays on that Pathway to Progress.  They will fairly represent all of the residents of Sauk Village.  They are the ONLY HOPE for continuing the Progress that Sauk Village has begun to make the last two years.  Admittedly they know that they have much more work ahead of them but they're committed to doing the job.  They will ensure that balanced budgets and lower taxes will continue, they will ensure more economic development and responsible spending with resident's tax dollars.

Zupon, Carter and Coleman will ensure that Village Government continues to be open, honest and transparent process. Sauk Village residents and taxpayers deserve these Trustees because they truly care about the community, not exacting vengeance and playing politics.

ZUPON currently serves on the Village Board of Trustees and who brings dialogue and a level of professionalism that had been lacking for many years.  Zupon is a no nonsense Trustee who is willing to listen to the opinions and concerns of others she may not agree with.  Zupon currently serves as chairperson of the Village Board's Public Safety Committee, has volunteered for many years for village events and recently brought back the Village's newsletter Sauk Talk and is working to update the Village's outdated website.  Zupon has been a homeowner for 19 years and is Vice President of a major Chicago Investment Bank. 

Zupon has earned your trust and deserves to be re-elected.

CARTER stepped up to serve our nation as a US Army Veteran and he stepped up to serve the people of Sauk Village.  Ronald Carter has served as Village Trustee filling the vacancy when Kelvin Jones resigned from the board after moving from town in 2017.  Carter has volunteered in community and is willing to help out our veterans as well.  Carter is retired after having served in law enforcement his entire career serving as Chief of Police of a south suburban community and the Cook County Department of Corrections for many years.  Carter has proven he can make the tough decisions when he stepped up to serve Sauk Village.  Carter will definitely fill in where outgoing Trustee Cecial Tates is leaving off.  He will be the only veteran on the Village Board of Trustees and Sauk Village has always honored their veterans.  

CARTER has earned your trust and proven he is no fool!  He deserves your vote!  

COLEMAN is the newcomer among all the candidate seeking to become your Village Trustee.  Coleman is married, retired from the legal field where he served as a paralegal and process server for many years.  Coleman still balances his check book the old fashion way; using a check book ledger and not an iPhone! COLEMAN is known to be frugal with his finances and is fiscally responsible.  He will be just as frugal and financially responsible with the taxpayers money too!    COLEMAN has volunteered for many ongoing events in the Village.   He served on the Village's Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee offering very helpful insight into crafting the plan for Sauk Village.    COLEMAN will truly be the breath of fresh air with new ideas, which Mayor Derrick Burgess and his colleagues embrace.  

COLEMAN deserves a vote and will work hard to earn your trust and confidence!    

We hope you consider your vote for these three candidates for Village Board and please consider a vote for 

ALSO DO NOT FORGET:
TAMMY JONES, RaDONNA BROWN and BRANDIE JACKSON-WILLIAMS for School Board Member for Community Consolidated School District 168.  These three women are committed to the success of Sauk Village schools which include raising our standards.  

ZUPON, CARTER AND COLEMAN MEET AND GREET SAUK VILLAGE VOTERS

ZUPON, CARTER AND COLEMAN

by Steve LaRock

SAUK VILLAGE |  The People United for Progress party candidates hosted a very successful Meet and Greet Sunday afternoon at American Family Restaurant for about 30 or so residents and voters.  Village Trustees Beth Zupon and Ronald Carter were joined by newcomer Arnold Coleman each seeking a seat on the Village Board of Trustees on April 2nd.  

Trustee Beth Zupon spoke about her credentials and experience and the need to “continue the progress that we have started”.  Zupon listed the accomplishments that the current administration has made in less than two years and is proud to have been part of that progress.  Zupon said there is much more work to be done and she asked for the residents support.  Zupon has been a resident of Sauk Village for some 19 years, is employed as Vice President of a major investment bank, and served as Village Clerk for Sauk Village has volunteered for numerous community events and most recently the last two years as Village Trustee.

Trustee Ronald P. Carter, III spoke about his credentials and experience and the need to stay focused and continue economic development.  Carter believes that new business will spur more revenues for the Village.  Carter has over 30 years in law enforcement having served in the Cook County Department of Corrections and a former Chief of Police.   Carter was appointed in 2018 to the Village Board of Trustees by Mayor Derrick Burgess.

Trustee candidate Arnold Coleman speaks with a resident

Trustee candidate Arnold Coleman spoke about his work experience in the legal field and how he transitioned from a “volunteer” to a candidate for Trustee.  Coleman said he supports the Strategic Plan for Progress and applauds the progress that has been made thus far.  Coleman currently serves on the Village’s Senior Citizen Advisory Council and also on the Advisory Committee for the Village’s Comprehensive Plan.  Coleman has also volunteered for many community events.

Zupon, Carter and Coleman are keeping their campaign positive and focusing on progress and how they will help with moving the Village forward.  “There has been too much negativity in Sauk Village and these three are the best hope we have for our future” a long-time resident said.  Zupon responded that there is too much misinformation on social media perpetuated by a few individuals and that she avoids that when possible.  Carter agreed there is far too much negativity from the other campaigns including racial references to “golden ghetto” and candidates who live in certain areas of the Village.  “Does it matter where one lives?  We still are subject to the same rules, regulations, policies and procedures; we still have potholes, the same crime, and the same problems.  It is nothing but a way to divide our community” Carter later said. 

Trustee Ronald Carter speaking to the residents

Zupon spoke about the Strategic Plan for Progress that she voted for and supports and how that has become a roadmap to the success this administration has had.  Zupon spoke about the progress the Village has made with maintaining vacant homes and working with the South Suburban Land Bank and other entities.  “There is a lot of work still needing to be done, but we cannot stop the progress we have made thus far” Zupon said. 

Zupon introduced School Board candidates for School District 168 which included current School Board President Tammy Jones and Sharon Archie-Davenport who both spoke about their achievements for the district.  RaDonna Brown also spoke about what she hopes to bring to the School Board if elected.  Brandie Jackson-Williams was also invited to attend, however, was unable to due to personal commitment she had. 

Dr. Octavia Altheimer who is a candidate for Prairie State College Board spoke about what she hopes to bring to the College Board.  Altheimer, a Veteran spoke about her service “in the trenches” and said she is not afraid to get in the trenches again for the taxpayers.   

Also in attendance were Mayor Derrick Burgess, Village Trustees Cecial Tates, who did not seek re-election, Rodrick Grant and Village Clerk Marva Campbell Pruitt.

American Family Restaurant

School Board President Tammy Jones

School Board Candidate RaDonna Brown

School Board Member Sharon Archie-Davenport

  

MEET RADONNA BROWN- Candidate for School Board District 168

RADONNA BROWN, M.S.

BY STEVE LAROCK, EDITOR

RaDonna Brown is running for School Board in Sauk Village's School District 168, election is April 2nd.   This information was provided by the candidate for this profile. This is not an endorsement for RaDonna, but we want to take this opportunity to showcase a series of candidates running in School District 168 to help educate residents of Sauk Village.  School Board members serve without compensation and are the watchdogs for your tax dollars and for the success of Sauk Village's Schools!  We hope you familiarize yourself with these candidates showcased in this series.  GOOD LUCK RaDONNA:

Meet RaDonna Brown, MS is an 13 year resident of Sauk Village, Illinois and mother of 2 children currently attending School District District 168 schools. RaDonna has owned and operated a state-licensed home daycare for the last 12 years. She provides a fun, safe, reliable, and nurturing environment for children of working families in the community. RaDonna also provides home care services for the Illinois Department Of Human Services for children with disabilities. Anyone who knows RaDonna, will undeniably know that she has a passion for children.

RaDonna recognizes the importance of education and often encourages others. She received her undergraduate degree in 2006 (BOG/Early Childhood Education) from Chicago State University and her graduate degree in 2014 (Human Behavior) from Capella University. Throughout the years, RaDonna has earned many credentials and certifications from the Illinois Department of Human Services which includes Infant and Toddler Specialist LV2 and Early Childhood Educator LV2. She actively pursues new training and learning opportunities. As a result, RaDonna serves as a great resource for others.

RaDonna actively sits as the secretary on the board of the No Excuses Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charitable organization, dedicated to job readiness training, criminal justice education, advocacy, and charitable services. RaDonna has engaged the needs of the community by hosting community events such Community Harvest Dinners, Community Summer Fests, assisted with Back-To-School Bookbag Supply Drives, and On-the-Spot Homeless Food Provision Services.

As a candidate, RaDonna has a personal interest in preserving and improving the quality of Community Consolidated School District 168. Her efforts as a board member would center on serving all children in the community; one child is no more important than another. Sauk Village is a diverse community and deserves board members who celebrate that diversity by catering educational needs that serve the all children of the community.

As a school board member, RaDonna pledges to advocate for every child's overall educational experience. She plans to engage and inform students, families, staff and the community. RaDonna will make sound decisions based upon sound data, all while building strong partnerships with board counterparts.

RaDonna will engage the community and allocate resources according to the needs. She kindly requests your support in her efforts to become the new voice on the Community Consolidated School District 168 School Board. Stay tuned for more candidate profiles.

MEET RaDONNA BROWN- Candidate for District 168 School Board

RaDonna Brown is running for School Board in Sauk Village's School District 168.   This information was provided by the candidate for this profile. This is not an endorsement for RaDonna, but we want to take this opportunity to showcase a series of candidates running in School District 168 to help educate residents of Sauk Village.  School Board members serve without compensation and are supposed to be the watchdogs for your tax dollars and for the success of Sauk Village's Schools!  We hope you familiarize yourself with these candidates showcased in this 4 part series.  GOOD LUCK RaDONNA:

RaDonna Brown, MS an 11 year resident of Sauk Village, Illinois and mother of 2 children of District 168. For the past 10 years, RaDonna has owned and operated a state licensed home daycare.  She provides a fun, safe, reliable, and nurturing environment for children of working families of the community.  By night RaDonna provides home care services through Ingalls Private Duty for children with disabilities. If anyone knows RaDonna, they will undeniably know that she has a passion for children.

RaDonna recognizes the importance of education and often encourages others.  She received her undergraduate degree in 2006 (BOG/Early Childhood Education) from Chicago State University and her graduate degree in 2014 (Human Behavior) from Capella University.  Throughout the years RaDonna has earned many credentials and certifications from the Illinois Department of Human Services which includes Infant and Toddler Specialist LV2 and Early Childhood Educator LV2.  She actively pursue new trainings, and learning opportunities, as a result, RaDonna, serves as a great resource for others.

As a candidate, RaDonna has a personal interest in preserving and improving the quality of Community Consolidated School District 168. Her efforts as a board member would center on serving all of the children in the community; one child is no more important than another. We are a diverse community and have to celebrate that diversity. Our schools are here to serve the educational needs of all the children of the community. With that being said RaDonna seek to engage the community and allocate resources according to the needs. She kindly request your support in her efforts to become the new voice on the Community Consolidated School District 168 School Board.  RaDONNA BROWN Punch #179.