The Will County Council voted unanimously Thursday to nominate Lockport Republican David Oxley because the Fifth District council member to fill the place left vacant when member Annette Parker was elected county clerk in November.
Oxley is a lifelong Lockport resident and has served on the town’s Plan Commission for 32 years, together with the final eight years as chair. He is the proprietor of Oxley Construction, a concrete and carpentry firm. He is married with three kids and 6 grandchildren.
Oxley mentioned he’s an lively resident within the Lockport group, having been chairman of the annual Canal Days parade for 18 years, a former director of the Chamber of Commerce and a board member of the town’s Canals and Trails Credit Union and Heritage and Heritage . Architecture Commission, which opinions purposes for the downtown historic district.
He mentioned his in depth expertise in building, land use and zoning would profit the Will County Council.
The fifth District covers the Lockport and Crest Hill areas.
Oxley mentioned he seems to be ahead to engaged on behalf of the residents of his district and the residents of Will County.
“We are right here to work for the individuals,” he mentioned. “We are right here to get the job completed.”
Oxley’s title was proposed by the Republican caucus, and Democratic Speaker Joe VanDuyne of Wilmington mentioned he urged each events to help the nomination.
Jim Richmond, Mokena’s Republican chief, mentioned he believed Oxley can be a superb addition to the council and that his background can be an asset to a number of county council committees, similar to land use and growth and land enchancment capital.
“He was closely concerned in the neighborhood,” Richmond mentioned.
Parker, a county board member for 10 years, was elected county clerk in November to switch former clerk Lauren Staley Ferry, who resigned in the summertime. Parker will serve the remaining two years of Staley Ferry’s time period and Oxley will serve the remaining two years of Parker’s time period.
By legislation, the emptiness needed to be crammed inside 60 days and be a member of the identical social gathering as Parker on the time of his election.
Council member Steve Balich of Homer Glen, a former Republican chief, mentioned he appreciated Oxley’s potential to work with others.
“He understands the issues,” Balich mentioned.
With the reorganization and swearing-in ceremony held earlier this month together with Oxley’s appointment, the board is made up of 11 Democrats and 11 Republicans, with County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, a Democrat, breaking any potential ties .
Prior to the county board assembly, the Forest Preserve District of Will County board, made up of county board members, held a reorganization assembly to call its new officers.
Because the board is evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats, it has determined to share the duties of its officers because it has for the previous two years, however the appointments haven’t been with out disagreement.
The first nomination for president and vice chairman failed. In that case, Naperville Republican Julie Berkowicz can be president for the primary yr and Bolingbrook Democrat Jackie Traynere can be vice chairman, and the 2 would swap positions the second yr.
Council member Frankie Pretzel, a New Lenox Republican, mentioned he could not help Traynere as a result of they did not agree with the taxes.
Intended member Ortiz, a Democrat from Romeoville, voted with Republicans to defeat the nomination.
The second spherical of nominations, permitted by a vote of 12-9, chosen Ortiz as first-year president and Judy Ogalla, a Monee Republican and former county board president, as vice chairman. The two officers will swap positions the second yr.
The Forest Preserve Board additionally chosen Mica Freeman, a Plainfield Democrat, as secretary for a two-year time period by a vote of 19-2.
A vote to nominate just lately put in board member Dawn Bullock, a Plainfield Democrat, as treasurer failed after Pretzel requested to seat somebody from the Republican caucus to honor the politically divided nature of the board.
Berkowicz was subsequently chosen as treasurer by a vote of 19-2.
Michelle Mullins is a contract journalist.
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