Election 2025: Oak Forest Mayoral Candidate James Hortsman

OAK FOREST, IL — The consolidated election is set for April 1, and Oak Forest will come out of it with a new mayor for the first time in nearly two decades.

First elected in 2009, current Mayor Hank Kuspa is not seeking re-election. Three candidates are vying for his spot: Donald Guisinger, James Hortsman, and Ken Keeler.

Patch has provided a candidate questionnaire for all three, and we're now featuring their answers in candidate profiles.

Early voting begins March 17.

Candidate

James A. Hortsman

Campaign website:

James Hortsman for Oak Forest Mayor

Town of residence:

Oak Forest

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.

Account Executive (Sales) - Commercial Printing 46 Years in Print - 29 years in Sales

Previous or current elected or appointed office:

Currently the 6th Ward Alderman - in this Position for 11 3/4 years Term up in May 2025.

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

Bringing in businesses to our city and working beside the administrative team to ensure that we continually grow and improve. We will be having three bargaining units coming to the table, which will require great attention. We need to continue to be fiscally sound with all the items we have, especially infrastructure. We have been working diligently on infrastructure.

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

I am the only candidate that has more than 11 years of experience in city government and specifically for the City of Oak Forest. I have been in office for 11 ¾ years. I have worked with residents in all parts of our city and I would like to continue to work with you! I am the only Alderman on the current council that voted against raising the Tax levy this year. The other candidates, including one current council member running for mayor candidacy, voted for the levy increase and the other candidate (does not sit on the current council) has limited experience with any city operations. I worked & fought for the best Interest of Oak Forest, the whole time I have been on this Council and will continue that Drive. That is why the next Mayor will need to be ready now to work with a New Council, that is where we are most different, I have done that and my opponents have not done anything like that.

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

All three candidates would be brand new to the mayor position, but all drastically varying with levels of past experiences and knowledge. The mayor position is not a position where we want to train the new candidate on past, present and future city operations. The mayor position is not a position where you just begin to build your municipality government experience. Each Candidate has different ideas about how to be the Mayor, but my experience on the city council stands for itself. I am not a candidate who would go back to the “old ways of Oak Forest.” I have always stood for what I believe is best for the City of Oak Forest as a whole. I believe we need to continue to be fiscally responsible, as the current council has already been working for many years. One of the mayoral opponents wants to operate the old way, where there are "deals" to be made and it is by “who you know”, which is not how a city should operate.

My other opponent has presented doing things that are not feasible or realistic, which he would understand in greater depth if he seasoned and educated himself more with what Oak Forest has currently been working on for years. I will not present and paint a picture of unrealistic goals and ideas to sound appealing to the voter.

I speak the truth. I know what stage we are currently at and how we can continue the process to keep the fluidity. In my opinion, with knowledge of our city and budgets, we as a city cannot contribute city funds to new homeowners, as one candidate has presented. We also would not be able to acquire the Oak Forest Hospital property, as that land is owned by Cook County. Cook County plans to develop the property and to retain all its revenue for Cook County only. I have been informed and told this is not something that would work or be possible with the surrounding communities. We of course will work diligently and exercise all options, but Cook County does want want to keep their property themselves.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

We have had many successes in my time on city government. We are continuing to make more headway on many projects. We need to continue those successes to bring more opportunities into our city. Going back to the “old Oak Forest ways” doesn’t serve the community, it can only serve a person(s).

We have had strategic plans in the past and I will work on reviewing the processes and I will have an upgraded strategic plan during my term. This would be one of my first strategic processes to continue in a positive direction, while working beside the administration.

Another key component to my mayor position would be working beside administration and departments to ensure all departments are more accountable to the residents and businesses. As mayor, I will be networking within our community, and I will have conversations with any resident that wants to have a conversation or meeting. I invite and welcome residents to attend or listen to our monthly board meetings, locate the minutes and stay in the know of what is taking place within our community. Let’s work together to make Oak Forest a city to be proud of.

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

I will stress again; I have many years of experience working on a city council. As 6th Ward Alderman, I have ALWAYS worked within to improve accountability and transparency. I vote for what benefits the taxpayers of the City of Oak Forest.

As the current council, we have brought in many businesses, including but not limited to Aldi, Logistical Warehouse, multi-use properties at 157th Street, the old Ace Hardware property, the new senior living facility, along with the Starbucks, Culvers, Sherwin Williams Paint and the Dollar Store.

I have been requested to sit in on interview committees for new administration and staff hires. I have also sat on negotiating committees with our union organizations. In addition, I was a liaison alderman to the Crime Prevention Committee and the Social Services Committee. I am also the Mayor Pro-temp when our current Mayor Kuspa is not able to attend the council meetings.

I have always made it my priority that if a resident need resources, it is my responsibility to make that happen and I push hard to best assist in getting the issues resolved. When residents, council or city staff contact me via phone or email, I always respond. I even meet with residents in person to discuss their concerns or questions. I have walked the Streets and Backyards of Resident to view issues. As mayor, I will continue to honor and follow through with what I have already been doing for many years.

Why should voters trust you?

Residents can most definitely trust me. I already have established credibility and trust with many residents. But for some of you who I do not know or who I haven’t had the opportunity to work with yet, I will need an opportunity to prove that trust to you. I already have established trustworthiness within the 6th Ward residents. To back up my statement, I have been sharing testimonials from the voices of many residents of the 6th Ward who have had direct experiences with myself over the years. I have invested many years in building trust and competency with our residents and community.

I have heard some residents’ state; experience is not a platform to be used for the mayoral candidacy. I strongly disagree. I believe experience is essential and a benefit for many jobs, positions and boards and should be considered. Yes, an inexperienced candidate can most definitely learn along the way, but I do not recommend our newly elected mayor to learn along the way at the expense of us as taxpayers. I encourage and recommend any new persons and interested parties to get started within our city by being more involved with city commissions/boards, attends meetings, volunteer, an alderman candidacy, etc.….In my opinion, the mayor position is not a position where there should be a training process and a learning curve that can set back the city. The mayor should not be dependent on the alderpersons, council and administration to “teach” them city known operations for the next 4 years. How will that affect or slow down the city’s progress?

My current loyalty, experience and commitment to our city speaks volume and trustworthiness. I am transparent. I am visible and available to the community. I have challenged the current mayor and the administration on many topics and issues at board meetings. I advocate for the residents and businesses. If you contact me, I will respond. I am proactive in helping you as a taxpayer. My oath and fiscal responsibility in any city position is to work for the taxpayers. I can strongly and confidently say, I have been working with many of you for over 11 years now. I do not have any grievances to “fit into” my mayor candidacy. I do not look to spend OUR money as taxpayers without a full understanding of what needs to happen and why. As an Alderman, I have worked beside many different council members, administrations, departments heads and residents these past 11 years, educating myself, learning and trying to be the best that I can be for the City of Oak Forest.
I will continue those efforts to make progress for Oak Forest.

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

First and foremost, to CONTINUE the growth of businesses. I want to see our two business corridors (159th Street & Cicero Avenue) thriving with more businesses and to see the traffic that every weekend goes to the west come back to our city. I have come into Oak Forest many times as a young man, because Oak Forest had thriving businesses and restaurants that were fueled by Oak Forest Hospital when it was a thriving facility. The hospital brought in many visitors from outside of our city with people visiting their loved ones, physicians, appointments etc.…Who would then also dine at one of our local restaurants or grocery shop when passing thru. We need a business engine like what the hospital provided for us and that is what I would strive to create.

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

I am a fiscal conservative; I want to make sure we are during our diligence as financial stewards of the city and budget the taxpayer’s money appropriately and responsibility. I currently feel we are doing a fine job of budgeting the funds we have. The goal is to bring in MORE funds. The one issue that I have always seen within our city government is from the county or state level where they give us as the city unfunded mandates. It is VERY difficult to make those items pay well without those other government agencies not providing us with their fair share to help us apply their mandates.

As it is now, I will make sure the spending in Oak Forest is continually transparent and all businesses or residents know how those funds are being dispersed.

Fiscally, I believe we are doing well right now. I came aboard the city council after the 2008 recession, which was a very difficult time for the City of Oak Forest and the city budget. We must be very cautious and conservative to not be in that position again. It heavily impacted the residents and businesses. The city administration did their absolute best while working together to get through that difficult financial crisis. This is exactly why we need to make sure we continually work together and beside department heads (Fire, Police, Public Works, Building & Grounds, etc.…) on how each department budgets and spends their funds.

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?

Unfortunately, every town has crime, but we want to make sure we are doing all that we can in our end to lessen the crime rates within our city. We must work together to keep crime rates as low as possible while working closely with our police department.

I am the son of a Chicago Police Officer that worked for the City of Chicago for 35 years. I know the job of policing and crime prevention is not easy, and I know it is even more difficult now than many years ago. Oak Forest has had issues with petty crimes and deeper crime issues in some areas. We need to continue to work with our reputable police department and continue to provide them with all the support and tools to keep crime rates as low as possible. Again, these are not easy to address without looking at how we keep recruiting and retaining the best and brightest officers. We have invested in new technologies to better assist our police force, but we need to continually stay up to date with the newest technologies.

We also must keep working with the residents and businesses to make sure they are addressed with how we are working on crime issues within our city. We also need to work heavily with our state and federal politicians to advocate for the laws we need to have to make all our lives safer.

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

Residential and commercial development was not an issue that was marketed well in our city. We have now been very much up front to get the information that we use to market our city. We have used outside marketing professionals to create a brand for our city and have had much more success now than went I first was elected to the city council. We need to ensure that all our resources at city hall are going in the same direction and that we are working for the upgrade and improvement of our city. I believe the mayor must be ready to drive that force as we continually move forward.
We need to be very vigilant to not fall behind on addressing the positives in our city. We have had a facade program in place to encourage businesses to upgrade and improve their facades, and in result our city and businesses will be more visually appealing. We need to keep progress moving as we are moving.

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?

For the development of our city, we need to make sure that we can work with developers that are excited about working within our town. The developers need to understand what our vision and need is for Oak Forest. We need strong partnerships. We also need to make sure the funds for these projects work for all involved, including the city and the developer. Positively, this has been happening for a few years now, as you see the businesses coming, but we need to expand even more and with the right developers. The city owns some properties, and we have marketed those properties for a while. We now need to stack the pressure to move those plots of land into development. There are also many swaths of property that are privately owned. We need to make every effort to keep in contact with those owners to see how we can partner or assist them in developing those vacant parcels. The latest efforts have been very successful, and to continue the growth, but we need to turn up the heat. As Mayor I will direct those efforts, but I cannot stress enough, we cannot go backwards. As for why it is crucial that the mayor has experience and knowledge to continue the pathway. We do not have time for a mayor to learn the ropes and for the City of Oak Forest to regress on what we have been striving and working on in recent years. I as your mayor will make sure we continue the progress.

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

At this time, there are no obstacles that would prevent me from serving a full 4-year term. I look forward to getting started and working for and beside the residents of Oak Forest. I am looking forward to applying what I have learned, experienced and witnessed these past 11+ years on the council and now applying those strengths and knowledge to the new position as mayor. I look forward to meeting more residents outside of the 6th Ward community. I also want to be proud of our community, not only as the mayor, but as a resident and taxpayer. We have to work together and not against each other. Let’s continue to create and live up to the motto, all good things close to home.

Educating myself on all Issues and Working tirelessly for the Stakeholders I do believe I am the Candidate that will make the most impact in Oak Forest, I would just need your votes.

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

I have been an Oak Forest resident for 29 years. I have been invested in all areas of the city, school district and sports/youth programs. My wife Donna and I raised our children in this city from their early elementary school days, thru high school and then thru the college years. We have always been committed to the City of Oak Forest in some shape or form. My wife was a teacher’s aide in districts 142 and 225 and has now been a teacher for over 10 years. We volunteered in all of the school booster organizations and in the parent teacher association (PTA). I volunteered and assisted with the Oak Forest Baseball Association in building the batting cages.

I have also been a high school baseball umpire for 25 years and a football official for over 20 years. I volunteered on the district 142 school board for 8 years. I was involved in upgrading the facilities in the district to receive improved learning facilities, which was a $25,000,000 project.

I have been employed with the same Industry for 46 years and I have been in sales for 28 of those dedicated years. Since entering Oak Forest in 1996, we have been members of the local St. Damian Parish. I have been on the Oak Forest City Council as 6th Ward Alderman since I was elected in 2013, in which that alderman term will conclude in May 2025.

My loyalty, heart and dedication are displayed in many areas within my family, my career and with the Oak Forest community. I have given a lot of myself and time to improve and contribute to our community. I have always volunteered and worked to give back to children, families, and residents. I humbly ask for your vote on April 1st and choosing JAMES HORTSMAN, as City of Oak Forest MAYOR.

I respectively ask for you to allow me to work for you. Allow me to make us proud of our city. Allow me to implement the changes and improvement we ALL want.
We are in this together. We are on the same team. We need to support one another to get the results we want. We are all residents and taxpayers of Oak Forest who want Oak Forest to be a safe and successful community for all.

*If you would like to chat in person or via phone please reach out.
I am happy to answer any questions to help solidify your vote for the upcoming election. HORTSMAN6THWARD@GMAIL.COM