Election 2025: Mokena Village Trustee Candidate Melissa Fedora

MOKENA, IL — The consolidated election is set for April 1, and Mokena will come out of it with some new faces on the Village Board.

Two candidates are running for one unexpired term, and seven are running for trustee seats. One seat is unexpired, with two running for it. Five others are running for three, four-year seats.
The policy-making branch of the Village of Mokena includes the Village President (Mayor) and a six-person Board of Trustees. Officials are elected at large for staggered, four-year terms.

Current Mayor Frank Fleischer leads his Mokena's Future slate, with trustee candidates Nick Clancy (candidate for the unexpired term), Kimberly Huelsman, and James Roberts.

Mayoral challenger and sitting Trustee George Metanias runs with his Friends of Mokena slate, with trustee candidates Daniel Gilbert, Colleen Patrick-Lenart (candidate for the unexpired term), Melissa Fedora (incumbent) and Josh Bailey. Incumbent Village Clerk Melissa Martini also joins their ticket.
Patch has provided a questionnaire to candidates, and we're now featuring their answers in candidate profiles.

Candidate:

Melissa Fedora

Position Sought:

Mokena Village Trustee

Campaign website:

https://friendsofmokena.com/

Town of residence:

Mokena

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're running for.

No.

Occupation. Please include years of experience.

Mokena Chamber of Commerce Executive Director - 15 years

Previous or current elected or appointed office:

Current Mokena Village Trustee - Elected in 2021

The most pressing issues facing Mokena are _______, and this is what I intend to do about them.

Everyone desires lower taxes, and it's easy to understand why, given the significant amounts we pay. One effective way to alleviate this tax burden is by expanding the commercial tax base. We can achieve this by attracting new businesses to Mokena and making every effort to retain our existing ones. Once businesses establish themselves here, it’s crucial to demonstrate the advantages of operating in Mokena, ensuring they remain for many years. Also, a key aspiration we all share is enhancing the downtown area. While most storefronts in the downtown are occupied, there currently are a few vacant lots that can be developed to introduce enjoyable and valuable experiences to the community.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

We all belong to the same community and want what’s best for our beautiful village, so likely the differences between myself and the other candidates are not huge. But everyone associated with the Friends of Mokena group that I am part of shares common perspectives and visions for our community's progress. That's the reason we are all campaigning together. When we work in unison, we can achieve our goals more effectively. Running as a slate and ensuring that we are elected together allows us to reach our objectives more quickly, as we start off with a shared understanding.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

Instead of focusing on the shortcomings, I prefer to highlight ways we can enhance our community if Friends of Mokena is elected to office on April 1. Establishing a stronger line of communication with other elected officials of local taxing bodies, staff, and residents is essential. Improved communication from the mayor will foster greater transparency and enhance community engagement, all of which Mokena currently requires for improvement.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

We prioritize maintaining low spending to ensure we are fiscally responsible with the hard-earned money of taxpayers. We achieve more with less, utilizing only 0.4 cents of every tax dollar. Additionally, we strive to simplify the process for businesses looking to establish themselves in Mokena. Over the past 15 years, through my work with the Chamber of Commerce, I've frequently heard this concern from local businesses.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have had 15 years of active involvement in our community as executive director of the chamber of commerce. I've dedicated myself to supporting local businesses and keeping the community engaged by organizing various events, such as two annual parades, community expos, holiday drives for food, toys, and pet supplies benefiting local non-profit organizations, scavenger hunts in businesses, and numerous restaurant promotional events, among others. Additionally, I have served on the Mokena Community Park District’s Foundation Board and the non-profit group Mokena Strong, which helped residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. With a college degree in journalism, I also possess strong communication skills that have been instrumental in crafting effective marketing campaigns and engaging newsletters to keep our chamber businesses and residents informed and connected. My passion for community development and my commitment to fostering a thriving local economy have always been at the forefront of my work.

Why should voters trust you?

I hope the community trusts that I prioritize their well-being, as I have a solid history of placing Mokena first. This commitment stems from my fifteen years of experience working for a non-profit organization that greatly benefits our community, along with my volunteer work on various boards during that period. I dedicate my time to this cause because not only do I reside in Mokena, but I am raising my son here, and I desire to see all of us thrive and enjoy the best quality of life possible! Home is where my heart is.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?

Significant development in the downtown area for one. While Rome wasn’t built in a day, it’s likely that our downtown area won’t be fully revitalized within a single term either. However, we must strive for more substantial and rapid progress than what we’ve observed in recent years. Additionally, since Mokena is mostly developed, we need to be highly strategic with the remaining parcels of land. It’s crucial that the projects proposed to us represent the highest and best use of these spaces. I would also like to see enhanced marketing for our village, including a more comprehensive village newsletter and an updated website. Currently, the village and police department maintain a Facebook and Instagram page, a YouTube channel, a monthly print and electronic newsletter, and the Everbridge text message alert system. Unfortunately, there are still residents that are unaware of these information channels. I see revamping the website as an essential first step in disseminating this information to our residents and businesses. Achieving these goals without increasing the Village's share of property taxes would be a significant accomplishment in my eyes.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the handling of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

As mentioned in the previous question, it is essential to find the right equilibrium between investing money to achieve progress in our desired areas and avoiding excessive spending that would overburden taxpayers. Once again, a robust commercial tax base plays a crucial role in providing the necessary funds. This is why it is so crucial to shop local and ‘keep your money where your home is!’

What are your thoughts on the crime rate in your community, and what more can be done to combat crime — especially violent crime — in town?

In Mokena, we are quite fortunate to experience low rates of violent crime, largely due to the dedication of our diligent police department. They have successfully implemented the Flock Camera System as a means of deterring and solving crimes. Additionally, we recently completed a state-of-the-art new police department on 191st Street, achieved without imposing any extra costs on taxpayers. Ensuring that the police department has all the necessary tools and resources to effectively reduce crime will remain a top priority.

What is your view of the city's approach to commercial and residential development? What would you change (if anything)?

As mentioned earlier, given that Mokena is largely developed, we must adopt a highly strategic approach for the remaining land parcels. It is essential that the proposed projects reflect the optimal use of these areas. I believe important factors to consider include infrastructure planning, aesthetics, and sustainability—such as green space and connectivity. Recently, we have observed a growing demand for upscale residential ranch townhomes, as the local population ages and seeks to downsize to homes with less stairs and shared maintenance.

When it comes to development, what are some key areas for improvement or additions you feel are most wanted by residents? What will need to be done to make this happen?

During my interactions with residents and business owners in Mokena, the most frequent request I've encountered is the desire for a revitalized downtown area. Also, I've heard people express their desire for an updated village hall and safer pedestrian crossings at key intersections. Strengthening our partnerships with our local non-profit organizations that often provide resources to our community is also an important consideration.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

No, there is no reason. I’m in it for the long haul if re-elected!

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I’m not in this race for power or notoriety; I just want to put my skills to good use for our awesome community. I deeply care about Mokena and its bright future. I believe in accountability and a genuine desire to make life better for all of us—whether it’s cheering on local businesses, boosting our quality of life, or investing our money wisely. I’m all about teamwork, tuning in to what residents and business owners have to say, and making choices that put Mokena’s long-term happiness front and center!