8 Candidates Vying For 4 Positions On Homer Township Library Board: Election 2023

HOMER GLEN, IL — Eight candidates are vying for four positions on the Homer Township Public Library Board of Trustees. The consolidated election is Tuesday.

Candidates are:

• John Walters
• Brianna Roti
• Stephen Balich III
• Cynthia Bochenek
• Clare Lund
• Jane Klunk
• Rita Woods
• Tony Drabik

Klunk, Bochenek, Woods and Lund are incumbent board members. Klunk serves as president of the board, and Bochenek serves as secretary, according to the library website.

Walters is active in the Village's committees, and serves as a member of the environmental committee and Homer Fest committee, according to his candidate questionnaire with Patch.

He said the most pressing issue facing the Library is, "Roughly 75 percent of our property tax bills go to our local school, and the Library also has a line on our property tax bills. I believe in a more transparent, and responsible to the taxpayer, use of taxpayers’ money."

Lund, a school librarian, has served on the board since 2019. She said the most pressing issue facing the Library is the immediate issue of wrapping of the current construction project.

She added that, "The library also has an aging bookmobile that will need to be replaced soon. This is a beloved fixture in our community and will be a large expense. Luckily, we have funds earmarked for that, due to the conservative budgeting and saving funds for expenditures such as this."

When asked about the differences between herself and other candidates, she said, "Our opponents have stated that they want certain materials to be age-restricted and require parent approval to be borrowed. Censorship is not and should not be the role of the public library system. I believe this should be the role of involved and informed parents to monitor their own child's reading materials and discuss these topics together, as each family is different and should have the right to make their own decisions. Materials should not be restricted in a public library. This is a slippery slope, and it violates the ALA Bill of Rights."

Bochenek, a previous Library employee and a current Trustee, said the most pressing issue facing the Library is "correcting any misinformation about the library."

She said voters should trust her because, "I have always been upfront and transparent and provide fact-checked information to the public. I cannot stress enough that the current board has always sought community input and acted 100% to support the Homer residents."

Klunk, a special education teacher, has served on the Library board since 1995. She said the most pressing issue facing the board is the completion of the building project.

"Furthermore, with the other board members, I will be overseeing the library’s finances to ensure that your tax dollars are being managed with fiscal responsibility. It is vital that the library continues its “ever present” presence in the community," she said in her candidate questionnaire with Patch.

When asked about the differences between herself and the other candidates, she added, "The other incumbents that I am running with are qualified and experienced. We are articulate and dedicated to the position; understanding our responsibilities as trustees. We embrace this role and commitment as crucial to the library’s future."

Woods, a physician and novelist, is a current Trustee. She said the most pressing issues facing the Library are "access and availability to information and resources. Continually changing technology for better or worse."

"As a Board member, I strive very hard to ensure that our library remains an open and welcoming place and that inclusion is celebrated. I am proud that our library has been proactive in this way. Additionally, our outreach to the community via bookmobile, Zoom & IRL programming is unsurpassed. I want to see that continue. Our staff is constantly encouraged to avail themselves of courses, seminars etc. which helps keep them (& me) current on the constantly shifting AI/tech/information landscape that might affect our library and community," she said in her candidate questionnaire with Patch.

When asked about the differences between herself and the other candidates, she added, "Our opponents appear to be running on a platform of fear as opposed to a true commitment to the mission of the library. Additionally, there seems to be a significant misconception re: the role of a Trustee, e.g.: we do not set tax rates, oversee material acquisition (as 2 examples). Further, I am a long time user of the library and availed myself of many of its amazing events."

Polls will open across Will County at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, and will close at 7 p.m. Election results will remain unofficial until April 25 when the Will County Clerk's Office finishes counting vote by mail ballots and provisional ballots.