Election 2025: Orland Park Library Trustee Candidate John Nugent

ORLAND PARK, IL —The consolidated election is April 1, and two spots on the Orland Park Public Library Board of Trustees are up for grabs.

The board consists of seven residents of the Village of Orland Park who are elected biennially to six-year terms, and serve as the policymaking body of the library.

Seeking to keep their seats are incumbents Bridget M. Lindbloom and Charles McShane. They're challenged by John Nugent and Linda S. Michaels.

Patch provided a questionnaire to candidates. Their answers are now published in candidate profiles.

Candidate:

John Nugent

Position sought:

Orland Park Public Library Trustee

Town/city of residence:

Orland Park

Party affiliation (if a partisan race):

Nonpartisan

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.

Real estate agent. 38.5 years

Previous or current elected or appointed office:

None.

The most pressing issues facing our (board, district, etc.) are _______, and this is what I intend to do about them.

Budgeting. The current trustees are just now "thinking they need to take a more involved role in the library's budgeting". "They are committed to controlling costs". Yet for the last 6 years they have voted to raise the tax levy of Orland Park property owners every year. Last year on average, property owners saw a 20% increase in the library taxes on their property tax bill

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

The difference is they have been tax and spend board members. They were charged with more than library oversight, fiscal oversight. They had a responsibility to keep spending in line. They did not do so. One can not argue though that it is a great library. This is about fiscal policy. All the candidates love this town and the library and want it to continue to be a beacon of the Southwest suburbs. Only Linda Michaels & I are committed to doing so fiscally responsibly

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

Everyone thinks the Orland Park Public library is top notch. As do I. The taxpayers agreed to fund a brand-new state of the art library and that was done so about 20 years ago. A multiyear multimillion dollar update & renovation was completed before it's 20th anniversary with much taxpayer funding. It is unquestionably a great library, aesthetically beautiful and well maintained. It is also well resourced; it is well funded, and it is supported by taxpayers and patrons. So, the incumbents and their president decided another large tax increase should follow all that spending. They failed the community to slap a tax increase on after all the community support

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Only now are the incumbents thinking they should question expensive professional relationships. That should have been on going. The library has a vast array of quality programs. Yet the incumbents and their president state that there are not enough activities in town for seniors. So, either the library needs to market what they offer even more or have additional programming. I support figuring out which is it and enacting that. Linda Michaels and I are both political newcomers and agree on these positions. The local schools are often touted as excellent. Actually, their achievements are not good enough and the library needs to realize it needs to be doing its part to help keep our kids excelling

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

I have served over 12 years on the board of directors of the nearby McCord Art & Cultural Center and was involved in their expansion on a village owned property. I understand the balance between serving patrons and fiscal responsibility.

Why should voters trust you?

Because I am like them. Another resident of Orland Park who loves this community and appreciates our phenomenal library, but I also understand that most of us just had a 25% increase in our total property tax bill. We need to say to all the taxing bodies that enough is enough. NO more tax increases. While the tax increase can be mostly attributed to our school boards, other taxing bodies need to be prudent as well.

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

Being part of the most recent Library Board to not pass an increase in taxes while maintaining the library's great programs

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

The current Board of Directors, led by a long-term President now seeking higher office, have ignored their responsibility to keep finances and spending in check. Now they are acting like any other government agency that spends all they have while adding another increase each year to spend more and more and ignoring the continued creep in spending effects taxpayers.

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

No

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

I graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Economics. I raised my family here in Orland Park. My kids are now college graduates and products of the #135 & #230 schools. I have been in the same Book Club for 29 years, so I love reading as well! I have a keen interest in architecture, history & historic preservation.