Mayor Sexton Pens Letter to Evergreen Park Residents

Dear Community Members:

My wife Karen and I so value your friendship and wish to thank you for the support you’ve extended recently at the polls but especially over this last year when my personal health was briefly challenged through contraction of the West Niles Virus.

Last month, we were both vividly reminded of what makes Evergreen Park one of the finest communities to call home. As we walked to Circle Park on an ordinary Saturday morning we didn’t know what to expect. We knew there would be some turnout for a run/walk memorial to Meg Donovan Moonan, but the overwhelming, heartfelt responsewas testament to the power of people in Evergreen Park.

Thousands of people came in droves by foot, on bikes and pushing strollers to the emotional rescue of a family hurt by loss. Our own emotions were challenged, as Circle Park became the heartbeat of our town for a beautiful Saturday morning. Never has a Mayor been prouder of community members. Never has a Mayor been more eager to lead. Never has a Mayor realized first hand how fragile life is.
The response to March4Meg remains with me and will forever be a testament to what really matters to people in our community.

Your resounding support and shear voting totals earlier this month inspire our Village Clerk, each Village Trustee and me to continue our mission to make Evergreen Parkbetter each day. The current economy has people frayed at the edges or snapping altogether. I like to think we in Evergreen Park have each other to lean against during these times of economic uncertainty.

Evergreen Park can look forward to new jobs, newfound revenue with the recent retail development and the kind of stability other communities covet. Safety, first-response procedures and crime prevention continue to be priorities in our administration. Our Class AA Plus bond rating must be upheld with the same strong accounting measures used to reach this point. Housing values have stayed strong and we do not have foreclosure signs populating every block.

Crain’s Chicago Business recently cited our community as having one of the highest percentages of mortgage-free home ownership at 32.1 percent, much higher than the Chicagoland average.

We as your leaders view that stability as validation of our performance. We strive to make Evergreen Park a community where a lifetime of dreams can be realized.
Your confidence in this administration will not be met with contentment but rather an increase in our resolve to serve you and, sometimes, even lean on you.

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Sincerely,

Mayor James Sexton
Village of Evergreen Park