Rachelle Koenig For Oswego Trustee: Candidate Survey

OSWEGO, IL — Four trustee seats on the Village Board are up for grabs in Oswego's consolidated election in April.

The terms for seats currently held by trustees Tom Guist, Kit Kuhrt, Jennifer Jones Sinnott and Karen Novy are expiring. The former three positions will be for four-year terms, while Novy's seat, filled after an unexpected vacancy in 2023, will be for a two-year term.

To fill the four-year term, voters will choose between Democrats Rachelle Koenig, James Cooper, Karen Novy and Republicans Jennifer Jones Sinnott, Jim Marter II and Terry Olson. Democrat Jennifer Hughes and Republican Lori West are vying for the available two-year seat.

RELATED: Oswego 2025 Consolidated Election: See Who Filed For Trustee Positions

Patch sent surveys to Oswego candidates ahead of the election. Responses will be published as they're received. Take a look at Koenig's answers below:

Your name: Rachelle Koenig

Office sought: Village Board

Campaign website: www.Rachelle4Oswego.com

Town of residence: Oswego

Party affiliation (if partisan race): Democrat

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: Content Strategist & Healthcare Writer (~30 years)

Previous or current elected or appointed office: N/A

The most pressing issues facing Oswego are _______, and this is what I intend to do about them. The most pressing issues I'm hearing from residents I talk to are:

Bringing businesses to the Village has been a soap-box topic of mine for almost two decades, since I moved here. It’s critical that we set our sights on attracting businesses that fit within a strategic profile of the type of businesses that will contribute to our tax base, provide the services and products our residents and other communities want and need, and are good stewards within our community.

Residents are also concerned about the costs related to infrastructure projects - When it comes to essential services like infrastructure, it’s critical that we ensure that we’re using every communication channel to help residents understand where their tax dollars are going and how projects will impact them. Otherwise, they will fall victim to the speculation and drama that can circulate and is almost always inaccurate.]

It's also critical to think ahead and anticipate potential issues related to already promised federal grants. If those don't materialize, we'll have to get creative to insure these essential projects are finished.

Expanding communication channels to residents so they feel more informed about Village business and the decisions that affect them - Having a long career in marketing, public relations and communication, I have a pretty solid understanding of how to effectively disseminate information to people where they are, instead of asking them to hunt for the information they need.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post? My strategic communications, project management and crisis management background put me in a position to be able to handle most situations with a level head. Also, my professional training in conflict resolution allows me to work to find commonalities and collaborate.

I've been involved in economic development within Oswego since our Village started exploring it as a department, was on the original task force to develop and economic development plan, I've volunteered my time in some way with every Economic Development Director since then, and I am now an Economic Development Commissioner for the Village.

I've had the privilege to serve on a wide range of committees and boards that span services and interests in Oswego. These include: Oswegoland Park Foundation, Oswego Junior Woman’s Club, Oswego Area Chamber of Commerce, the FUSIoN Project, the Vietnam Veterans Moving Wall Committee, Arranmore Arts, Oswego Arts Commission, and Oswego Rotary Club.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)? I prefer not to use the word "failed" because it implies that one Village Board member can wield more power than they actually can. This is essentially government by group project. We all have to work together in the best interest of the Village and its residents. Each Trustee has to check their ego and personal agenda at the door and be willing to collaborate and find common ground. That's something I'm committed to.

I also bring a strategic and critical analysis of what makes the most sense for the benefit of the Village and its residents. This isn't about being right, it's about serving the public in the best way possible.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform. I mentioned it earlier, but resident communication is a big issue that I hear a lot from residents. They want to better understand what is happening, why it's happening, what went into making the decisions that were made and how those decisions impact them in their every day. This is something I feel I can help with by offering myself as a resource to Staff to take advantage of my experience in this field.

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

I was among the first cohorts to receive the project management training that has since become the PMP curriculum. I’m trained as a career/effectiveness coach and I have extensive professional training in effective communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution.

In my project management experience, I've been responsible for several multi-million dollar technical and development projects simultaneously.

I've had the pleasure of serving as a Board Chair for the Oswegoland Park Foundation Board, Oswego Junior Woman's Club Board, Arranmore Arts Board, the FUSion Project Board, and a national non-profit board that provided coaching and support to women at or below the poverty line.

Why should voters trust you? If you ask the people who know me well, they will say I am a “what you see is what you get” type of person. That translates to open communication and radical candor -- whether I’m giving or receiving feedback. As a Trustee, I will be happy to explain the how’s and why’s of my votes so residents fully understand my approach to decision-making.

I also believe that the best way to resolve an issue is to put everything -- including the things we don’t want to talk about -- out on the table and have the tough conversation. You can count on me to do that as a Trustee.

Finally, I take a “big tent” approach when it comes to leadership and life. There’s room and respect for everyone who has room and respect for everyone else. As a Trustee, I will lead with empathy and work with my fellow Trustees and the Village Staff to serve the best interest of all residents.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success? I would like to contribute to and support a strategy that sets the Village up for an ongoing budget surplus and/or the ability to anticipate financial needs in the long term.

I’m particularly interested in increasing resident engagement with the Village. We have such an opportunity to educate and inform our residents about how the Village works, where their taxes go, and the strategic planning and execution that is essential to our shared success. Seeing more engagement will be a success in my book.

For more tangible accomplishments, seeing infrastructure projects progress as planned without complications related to Federal grants will be a wonderful accomplishment

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the handling of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking? The fact that we currently have a budget surplus is fantastic. Our ability to maintain that surplus and continue to build on it is essential. While the percentage of our residents' tax dollars that goes to the Village is relatively tiny, that doesn't preclude Village Trustees from being intentional and strategic with those dollars. We need to make sure the funds we invest in projects and activities have a return that can be explained and illustrated for our residents.

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? We are lucky to have a low crime rate in Oswego, thanks to the vigilance and valiant efforts of our Police Department and it's highly competent leadership. I'm especially excited about the Community Engagement Program that the Police Department has initiated that I believe will help create more community between law enforcement and residents and create more trust-based relationships with the people who dedicate their professional lives to protect our Village and its residents.

What is your view of the village's approach to commercial and residential development? Strengthening Oswego’s business community and having more business activity in the Village is critical. This is not only because residents want to shop and dine locally, but also because a strong business community helps lessen the tax burden on residents.

The most recent housing study laid out what many of us knew was the case based on national trends. We have a growing population of seniors who don’t have a large nest egg to lean on in their retirement and need options that they can afford along with their healthcare and living expenses. At the same time, we have a sizeable population of younger residents who don’t have the means or the interest to purchase the same homes that their older counterparts currently owned. They are more interested in rentals and less expensive housing options.

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? I know that residents want amenities like they see being built in other nearby communities. I think it's not only important to work to attract those businesses, but also to help residents understand why these large brands court all of the communities in the area and select the locations they do.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family? None that I can think of.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions? Since I can remember, I’ve been doing some sort of public or community service. My parents were actively involved in our community, so most of my weekends as a young person involved some sort of volunteer activity with my family. This instilled in me a practice of public service and volunteerism that I continued through college and into adulthood.

For years, I didn’t really see myself running for public office. It was suggested to me many times since I moved to Oswego, but my focus was on my family and my career. Plus, I felt I was making a significant impact serving on various boards and volunteering with organizations.

My children are older and more self-sufficient and I feel much more established in my career. So, when I was approached with the suggestion to run this time, it was an easy ‘yes.’ While I had previously been supporting local candidates, I knew I could make an even bigger impact by leveraging my empathy, sensibility, problem solving and strategic thinking to public service. I’m so excited for the possibility to serve Oswego as a Village Trustee!