THE V.I.P. PARTY 2009 VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD ELECTION
SLATE OF CANDIDATES
Residents of Brookfield, I can not conceal my pride with regard to the terrific roster of VIP Party candidates just slated for the April 7, 2009 Election. This is a dedicated, experienced and formidable group of active residents, the kind of people who, judging by their past records, are united in a desire to get things done for the Village of Brookfield. Full discussion on all Village issues, no complaining, grandstanding, just work, action and tangible progress.
Wil Brennan takes the lead as the VIP Party's nominee for Village President. Wil is a retired Educator, Electrician and former Local # 134 Union Official. Wil served four years as a Village Trustee and also served as Village Finance Chairman, Public Works Liaison and Zoning Board Liaison. Wil brings a mix of experience, drive and fresh approach to his candidacy. Astute Village Hall watchers and readers of the local newspapers know Wil is more than ready to take the gavel and bring common sense back to Village Government, Cut the wasteful spending and give the citizens of Brookfield the best possible Village Services for their tax dollars! (Click Here To See His Bio.)
Bill Russ has the experience and professionalism to be an excellent Village Clerk. Bill would give his time on Saturday mornings to open the Clerk’s Office and service the people of Brookfield better. Bill will also make the Clerk’s Office more open, accessible to all the residents. He will bring the Village Clerk’s Office out of the dark ages! Bill is a “people person” that always follows though to get things done for the people. He has an extensive record of governmental service to the Village of Brookfield; former Village President, he also served as Village Trustee two and one half terms, former Village President Pro-Tem and Finance Chairman, Village Clerk Pro-Tem, Chairman of the Local Board of Improvements, Chairman of Economic Development, Liaison to Water and Public Safety Committees, Liaison to the West Central Municipal Conference and former Liquor Commissioner of the Village of Brookfield. Bill was the past president of the Illinois Small Business Association, past member of the Cook County Economic Development Commission. He is currently the Senior Vice Commander of the Men’s Auxiliary – Brookfield VFW Post # 2868.
Ably aiding Wil Brennan will be Timothy W. Heilenbach. Tim is known for his warmth and sincerity, and his common sense approach to the sometimes sticky problems that occur in life or in business. Tim has an ability to clarify and cut to the heart of a matter. Tim has the respect of many people in local business circles. Tim also has fresh new ideas on how to streamline Village Government, how to bring new businesses into Brookfield and help existing businesses to stay in the village. The VIP Party is delighted he agreed to run for Trustee.
Bringing a totally fresh perspective to Village Board will be Leanne Digan. Leanne is very detailed, analytical and well organized; she will bring those skills to the table to help reshape the current zoning ordinances which require extensive revisions in order to complete the Brookfield 2020 Master Plan. She is currently serving as a commissioner of the Zoning Board. Leanne is willing to dedicate time and energy to an even greater use in Brookfield. She would be a welcome addition to the Village Board. A fresh face with new ideas!
Rounding out one of the greatest slates ever assembled for a Village Election for Village Board is Richard “Dutch” Kostelnik. Richard is an Iraq and Afghanistan War Veteran, The Village of Brookfield honored him when he returned home by making him one of two Grand Marshall’s for our July 4th Parade. Rich is a regular member of the Brookfield VFW Post # 2868. He is a military Special Forces and operations expert that would be a very effective Trustee that knows how to plan and get things done. Rich is also a security consultant and business loss expert. Rich served for many years on various boards and committees for the Chicago Chamber of Commerce. He also is a fresh face with many new ideas to make Brookfield a Better place to work, live and raise a family
This is the VIP Party slate for the 2009 Village Election. We invite you to take a few moments to click on the candidates names and familiarize yourself with their varied backgrounds.
John Gallagher – V.I.P. Party Nomination Chairman and Vice President
The V.I.P. Party of Brookfield
P.O. Box # 134
Brookfield, Illinois 60513
Cell: (708) 768-3143
Office: (708) 387-1366
Wil Brennan, Bill Russ on VIP's spring ticket
Party holds off on trustee announcement; PEP slate a mystery
By BOB UPHUES - Editor
With less than three weeks remaining before candidates for the spring 2009 elections can begin circulating nominating petitions, there's a whole lot of mystery surrounding Brookfield.
While PEP, the party of Village President Michael Garvey and the entire village board, remain coy about their plans, the Landmark has confirmed that the VIP Party candidate for village president will be Wil Brennan and that a former village president, Bill Russ, will run as VIP's candidate for clerk.
"Suffice it to say, I think we're headed in the wrong direction," said Brennan, who ran unsuccessfully for reelection to his trustee position in both 2005 and 2007.
Brennan was VIP's top vote-getter in both those elections, however, which make him a logical candidate for the top spot on the ticket.
Russ, who lost his reelection bid for president in 2005 to Garvey, and finished fifth in a six-person race for trustee in 2007, said last week, "I don't want to be a trustee, but I want to be at those meetings."
Regarding his wish to be village clerk, Russ said, "I have more experience, and I'd get the job done better than [village clerk] Brigid Weber."
Russ called Brennan an excellent choice for president.
"He's been in town a long time; he's been watching this board," Russ said. "He's got my endorsement hands-down."
Neither Brennan nor Russ would reveal the rest of the VIP slate, though both said it was pretty much ready to go.
"We've got everyone selected, and they've agreed," Brennan said.
Russ said that the slate includes "a couple of new names," indicating perhaps that Linda Stevanovich, who ran unsuccessfully for trustee in 2005 and for clerk in 2007, could be on the ticket.
Brennan said that the party would announce the full slate via press release by Oct. 25.
Meanwhile, PEP is keeping their slate under wraps. In addition to Garvey and Weber, there are three trustee positions up for election-belonging to Cathy Colgrass Edwards, Michael Towner and Kit Ketchmark.
Edwards has already expressed an interest in another term at the board table, and Towner would seem to be a likely candidate to run for reelection.
Ketchmark, who has served two terms on the board since 2001, is out as trustee due to the village's term-limit statute. The board's finance chairman and a fighter at the board table, losing Ketchmark would be a big blow to PEP.
Reached last week, Ketchmark wouldn't speculate on PEP's ticket or his own political future.
Neither would Garvey, who also brushed away a rumor that he's in line for a judgeship in DuPage County and that Ketchmark might run for president at the top of the PEP ticket.
"I think it's wishful thinking on the part of others," said Garvey. "I'm absolutely, positively not moving out of Brookfield."
As for the thought that Ketchmark might be running for president, Garvey demurred, but added, "I think Kit would make a tremendous village president."
Current Literature & Brochures
These files are in .pdf format, you will need Adobe Acrobat to view them.
V.I.P Campaign Brochure # 1
V.I.P Campaign Brochure # 2 
V.I.P Campaign Brochure # 3  |
