January 6, 2019
Dear editor;
I am announcing my candidacy for Fox Valley Park District Board of Commissioners as the at-large commissioner. I have lived in the Fox Valley for more than 40 years and raised two daughters in Aurora.
I’m running for the Fox Valley Park District Board because this moment in history requires those who will work to promote health and wellness and protect natural areas for our community.
The three pillars of the Park District philosophy are health and wellness, conservation and sustainability, and social equity. With experience as a healthcare professional and a teacher, I will bring first-hand knowledge of health, safety, and fitness to support the goals of health and wellness.
Over the last 20 years of my life, I have devoted myself to helping my patients stay healthy and fit. I will make sure our parks and recreation/community centers offer health and wellness opportunities that can improve our quality of life.
As a member of the faculty in sustainability at Waubonsee Community College, I have first-hand expertise to bring conservation and sustainable practices to the Park District.
One important outcome of sustainable practices is saving on the cost of electricity, water, waste management, and other goods and services. We all want the Park District to use our tax dollars wisely. I will see to that. We can protect both our parks and our pocket books by making the Park District more sustainable.
Good leadership ensures all individuals have the right to have access to parks and recreation. I have served on several boards in our community that address social equity, such as Fox Valley United Way, Mutual Ground, and the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry.
I’m stepping forward to make sure everyone in our community has access to the programs the Park District offers. I want to promote the work of the Fox Valley Park District Foundation to create more opportunities for all of our residents.
As the founder of the Aurora GreenFest and its chair for the last 10 years I have shown leadership in conservation and sustainability. I am vice-chair of Sustainable Aurora, the Mayor’s Advisory Board on Sustainability, on the Advisory Board of the Prisco Community Center, and the chair for Sierra Club in Kane and Kendall Counties.
I recently received a master’s of science in sustainable management from the University of Wisconsin and had a successful career at AT&T Bell Labs.
I’m looking forward to meeting with the voters of the Fox Valley Park District. I want to hear your visions for the future of the Park District. I look forward to having the opportunity to serve as the at large commissioner on the Fox Valley Park District Board of Commissioners.
My campaign kick-off event will be Friday, Jan. 18, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at 1 E. Benton (Old Aurora Library). For more information, please call 630-605-9244. The campaign’s website is www.mavisbates.org.
Mavis Bates
Aurora