Orland Township Together Candidate: Maria Sanfilippo

ORLAND TOWNSHIP, IL — Meet Maria Sanfilippo, seeking re-election as Orland Township Trustee with the Orland Township Together slate, in the April 2021 Consolidated Election. The election is April 6.

Sanfilippo recently filled out the Patch candidate survey, and her answers can be seen below.

If you are a candidate for the April election, and would like to answer our Patch candidate questionnaire, please email yasmeen.sheikah@patch.com.

Maria Sanfilippo

Age (as of Election Day)

55

Town/City of Residence

Tinley Park

Office Sought

Township board

Party Affiliation (if a partisan race)

Orland Township Together

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Queen of Peace High School; Richard J. Daley College

Occupation

Small business owner, Redtail Market, Frankfort, IL (5 years)
Client Care Specialist, Bremen Animal Hospital, Tinley Park, IL (20 years)

Campaign website

ott2021.com

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Current: Orland Township Trustee, 2011-present
Previous: Orland Township Collector, 2009-2011

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Trying to keep our services up and running safely. Navigating the complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic has sometimes proved challenging, but with the combined teamwork of our elected officials, the Township Staff, and many volunteers, we have met the occasion and will continue to do so.

Do you support Black Lives Matter and what are your thoughts on the demonstrations held since the death of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake?

Our township services like the senior transportation service and the food pantry serve all residents, period; we do not discriminate, and I believe there is zero room for racism in our community.

Do you think the current board has done enough to support racial equality, and if not, what specifically should be done to do so?

As we have done in the past, township officials and staff will thoroughly respond to any incidents of discrimination or racism in our community and ensure they are properly investigated.

What are your thoughts on the national and local coronavirus response? Do you favor measures such as limiting operation of non-essential businesses and restricting indoor/outdoor dining? And do you favor a local mask mandate?

I think it's important to consider objective health data on how to best protect families in our township from the devastating effects of this virus, while also acknowledging the hardships and changes that many local businesses, service providers, workers, students, and educators have undergone. Throughout the entire pandemic, the township has worked with local, state, and federal partners to keep residents safe, provide relief, and figure out a path forward.

What are your thoughts on the state and local coronavirus vaccine distribution, and how do you think local governments should work together to handle vaccine rollout?

Delays and confusion over vaccine availability have frustrated me, like many other residents; for every frustrating story, however, there have been many more about state officials, health care providers, and volunteers working overtime to help bring this pandemic to an end. Our pantry refrigeration units can handle vaccine capacity, and we are partnering with other local officials like Trustee Mike Glotz in Tinley Park to make sure we're ready to roll.

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

I've had 11 years of experience working as a trustee; correspondingly, I have seen firsthand how crucial good partnership between township government and other state & private partners is to a thriving community. As senior services chair, it's been personally meaningful to develop relationships with many of the vibrant seniors in Orland Township. They rely on services that we help provide; it is our duty as an elected board to help provide those services efficiently to our residents. Disbanding these services would leave our community at a loss.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Our term limit resolution aligns with the nearly nine in ten Orland Park voters who supported similar policy in a recent referendum. By continually advocating for transparency and keeping taxes and fees low for working class families, our platform speaks to the needs of ordinary people in our diverse community.

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

Over the past ten years, our board has helped expand awareness about both all the programs our township has to offer and ways to volunteer and get involved. We have expanded our food pantry and added a pet pantry; additionally, I am very proud of our victory in getting the Secretary of State’s Office to move to the Township building after they were asked to vacate Orland Village Hall. The Secretary of State’s employees have had nothing but positive comments about the move and our township atmosphere. We work together to get the job done with our community's best interest in mind.

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

Key elements we hope to achieve in the upcoming term include maintaining and strengthening our township services through the ongoing pandemic; helping facilitate REAL ID distribution at the township Secretary of State's Office; passing term limits into law; and working with state and local partners to connect local residents with vaccine distribution in an efficient manner.

Why should voters trust you?

Serving the community for the past 11 years has been one of the greatest honors of my life. As a trustee, I welcome input, ideas, and concerns from all corners; if I don’t have an answer right away for a resident, I continually seek to find one in partnership with our township family. Being an elected official means being a servant leader first and remembering that it is a temporary chance to help raise neighbors' voices for the betterment of everyone.

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

To me, good government means maintaining public trust that residents' taxpayer money is being allocated & used in as efficient and proper a manner as possible. We rely on volunteer work and local & private partners to help offset costs and achieve best outcomes. Great government services can be maintained while avoiding bloat or redundancy; both are possible!

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

There are none.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Giving back is always good business!

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

As you consider your vote, talk to many of the wonderful residents in our community that help make township life great, from seniors to volunteers at the pantry. We hope to continue to get more people involved with their ideas and energy as a community family in the months ahead. It's been a privilege to serve and I hope you consider placing your trust in our team to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead of us.