APRIL 4 ELECTION RESULTS AND COVERAGE at vfpress.news
MARCH 29, 2023
Vol. VII No. 13
Proviso United wants you to vote ‘HBO’ in D209 election
Maywood trustee candidates pledge focus on parks, safety
Candidates express frustration over allocation of district funds By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ
FREE
Staff Reporter
Candidates for the Proviso Township District 209 school board election are making the most of the campaign’s final days as the April 4 election draws near. With eight candidates running for three open seats, the Proviso 209 United slate composed of Sandra Hixson, Jennifer Barbahen, and David Ocampo are hoping to land in the public’s favor. Ocampo, a data engineer for Energizer and 10year Westchester resident, is a first-time candidate hoping to bring his best to apply changes to the operations of the district, creating a better school environment for his children who will be attending one of the three schools in the Proviso district. “It’s multifaceted but essentially it’s for the children, and not only my children,” Ocampo said. “The current situation at the high school is abysmal, there is no nice way to say it. It needs to be a viable option not just for my children but for the community’s children.” Ocampo believes the biggest issues plaguing the district are the lack of transparency with finances and the amount of money allocated for students. “It’s not a question about money, it’s just a question of how it is being spent,” Ocampo said. “It’s obviously not being spent on students when stuSee PROVISO UNITED on page 4
PHOTOS: AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ
Photo: Amaris E. Rodriguez
Proviso Public meeting: Maywood and District 209 candidates in the upcoming April 4 election joined community members Thursday night for a public meeting to address issues raising concern.
Lack of attention to Spanish-speaking residents raised concerns By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter
Maywood residents turned out March 23 as candidates for village trustee were asked to make commitments by The Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leaderships (CSPL), a grassroot coalition working to address issues in the community through the transformation of racial, economic, social and environmental systemic structures. The coalition organized the meeting in anticipation of the April 4 election.
The meeting included a presentation of different topics and allowed for a representative of each slate to say if they would commit to working alongside CSPL to address those issues. After a verbal commitment was given to all issues discussed, a slate representative was allocated three minutes to expand on their answers. The first issue presented to Maywood trustee candidates was delivered by Remona Sanders, a resident, who addressed the lack of upkeep for streets and community parks. “My vision for this playground is for the existing structure to be torn down and replaced with a safer innovative structure that would allow our children to utilize their imagination and creativity,” said Sanders. According to Sand-
ers, in 2006 Maywood residents voted that the parks should be under the care of the park districts rather than the village. However, the process of transferring over ownership is still in the first phase. Sanders asked candidates if they would commit to working with CSPL to create a community of residents and organizations to oversee the transfer of Phase 1 and Phase 2 by Spring 2024. Maywood trustee candidates Rachel Montgomery, Rahmann Williams and Diann W. Baker said “yes” to the commitment on behalf of their slates. “I have two young children and I have to take my children outside of See MAYWOOD CANDIDATES on page 11