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Health & Fitness

Citizens' Council of La Grange: A Personal Perspective

Katie Justak gives a personal perspective on what the Citizens' Council offers to La Grange residents.

As an active member of the Citizens’ Council of La Grange, I’ve had the opportunity to talk to residents who understand and know the Council’s history as well as our Village’s history. I have also met others who didn’t know the Council existed. The Council’s history is rich, spanning more than 70 years. Some people have said without the Council our Village would become mired in partisan politics, dividing our community, making it about elephants and donkeys rather than chicken coops or dog parks.  This spirit of community, this intangible feeling of home, is what La Grange is all about – it’s why we were named the best Chicago suburb a couple years ago.  It’s why businesses want to come here and why La Grange has fared relatively well through this economic downturn.

I grew up in what was then a rural community only 40 minutes southwest of here.  After graduating college I moved to Chicago. While I missed “home,” I was excited to move to the City.  When my husband and I grew out of our two-bedroom condo, we looked for a new place to call our home. We discovered La Grange through friends and immediately felt at home. The people here gave a friendly smile or said "hello” when you walked down the street or struck up conversation at local restaurants, churches or parks; and it had every major convenience within walking distance or a short drive. The more we learned about the great public and private schools; the opportunities available through the many communities within La Grange; and the proximity of our Village to the expressways, neighboring towns and Chicago, the more we said “La Grange." This was the place we wanted our children to grow up, where we wanted them to call home. I now look at my childhood “home” merely as the place I grew up and I am proud to now call La Grange my home.

The Citizens’ Council of La Grange is one of the communities within our Village.  The Council fosters community by encouraging people to be involved in the Village where they work and call home. It is comprised of residents from across the Village’s two square miles who care deeply about the direction of the Village and want to be informed on how our local government works, ask questions about issues that affect us every day and ponder what might be ahead and how we can prepare our Village to remain one of the best suburbs in Chicagoland. This is the dedication and the inspiration the Council members have when it comes time to recommend candidates to our neighbors and friends in La Grange.

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Over time the Council has evolved to ensure the organization is relevant in the ever-changing times.  Some struggle with the idea of the Council.  What kind of organization is it exactly?  We are not a political party or a caucus; therefore, the Council does NOT campaign on behalf of the candidates it recommends.  Individual members may choose to support candidates’ campaigns, but it is not under the guise of the Council. The Council is an organization for our residents to be informed and have a voice on local issues, topics of interest and how our government works. It’s the first step in helping shape the future of our Village by learning about and interviewing candidates who want to make policy and lead our Village.  

On Wednesday, March 13 at 7 p.m. at La Grange Village Hall, the Citizens’ Council of La Grange invites you to learn about the Council, but more importantly come learn about the 18 candidates that are on the April 9th ballot, running for Village President, Village Clerk, Village Trustee, Library Trustee and Park Board Commissioner at the Candidates Forum. 

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This will be your ONLY opportunity to hear from all these candidates at the same time. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. so you can meet the candidates before the Forum begins.  The Candidates Forum will include questions submitted by La Grange residents. I encourage you to submit the question you always wanted to ask via email to lgcitizenscouncil@gmail.com. Come to the Candidates Forum on March 13th to find out the answer to your question. It may be the answer you want…or didn’t want, but either way my hope it that you leave this Forum more informed about the upcoming election and confident in the choice you will make.

Respectfully submitted,

Katie Justak, Vice Chair

Citizens’ Council of La Grange

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