Kifowit Measure to Elect the Fox Valley Park District Board Advances

AURORA, Ill. – In an effort to provide area residents with more control over the Fox Valley Park District board, legislation sponsored by state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, to allow voters to elect the park district’s board members, was passed out of committee Tuesday.

“One of our country’s greatest strengths is the ability of citizens to choose who represents them at the national, state, and local levels,” Kifowit said. “Unfortunately, residents of the Fox Valley Park District currently do not have the ability to choose who represents them on the district’s board, and making this change will give them a voice.”

Kifowit is the House sponsor of Senate Bill 3387, which would reorganize the Fox Valley Pleasure Driveway and Park District as the Fox Valley Park District. The measure would also change the District’s board from 7 appointed members, to 7 elected commissioners. Commissioners would be elected from 3 districts, with each district being represented by 2 commissioners. The 7th commissioner would be elected at-large. Currently, the Fox Valley Pleasure Driveway and Park District is the only park district in the state outside of Chicago with an appointed board, as opposed to an elected one. The first board elections would take place during the 2017 spring consolidated elections, so no additional costs would be incurred.

“This legislation will allow area residents the same opportunity others have in selecting who represents them on the board, with checks and balances between districted and at-large seats,” Kifowit said. “I believe this change will help provide additional accountability of board members and make the park district even stronger and more responsive to the thousands of residents they serve.”

To RSVP or for further information, please contact Rep. Kifowit's constituent's service office at 630-585-1308, email Stephanie.Kifowit@att.net, or visit www.ILdistrict84.com.