VILLAGE FREE PRESS CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE_2019

Why We are the Persons to make Maywood Secure Again:

The Village of Maywood has been on a steady decline. The youth are
growing up, leaving for college, never to return as residents. While many are
moving away, some of the elderly remain, seeking resources to retain housing,
health and homecare resources.
The My Maywood Board of Trustee Candidates dwell in the heart of the
city with the city at heart, and are seeking to secure the city and return it to its
formerly robust and thriving condition - for the young, the elderly, business
persons and school systems, and the overall community. As a team we love and
believe in the city we live in, and excitedly seek to work as a team to rebuild the
city.

Dr. Mary “May” Larry, Ph.D

Nathan Lee

JoAnn Murphy
 Village Free Press Candidate

New Maywood Trustees

Name: My Maywood Slate Candidates Dr. Mary
“May” Larry, Ph.D.
Nathan Lee,
JoAnn Murphy

Age: N/A

Preferred contact:
My Maywood Slate
Email address: mymaywood@yahoo.com

Previous political experience:

*Dr. Mary “May” Larry, Ph.D Maywood Liquor Commissioner

Previous community experience:

*Dr. Mary “May” Larry, Ph.D
Business Professional; federal/state government contract writer;
Helped Maywood secure the following:
IDNR Youth Grant - $489,600 and the DOJ - COPS Grant - $269,000.
Organized Maywood’s first grant-writing seminar.

*Nathan Lee
Business owner: Nate Comic Inc.
Began one of the first summer feeding program in Maywood,
Hosts annual back-2-school supply giveaway; hosts annual toy giveaway,
Established a community mentoring program for at-risk youth

Occupation:
*Dr. Mary “May” Larry, Ph.D Business Consultant, Grant Writer
*Nathan Lee Entrepreneur; employed by Circuit Court of Cook County.

Education:
*Dr. Mary “May” Larry, Ph.D
*Banking Certificate, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, Doctoral Degree
*Nathan Lee:Bachelor’s Degree

Dear Maywoodians,

We are writing to present our candidacy for Trustees of Maywood.

The time is now for a positive change.
Our campaign committee, My Maywood, firmly embraces the belief that
elected village officials should be effective leaders in our municipal
government.

We are committed to working hard to improve the quality of life for all
residents of our city and know we can make a significant difference
protecting the integrity of our citizens. As Trustees, we will work tirelessly
to move Maywood forward as a working community with a new beginning.

Maywoodians, we personally feel your pain and see your disappointment.

Let’s begin to rebuild our Maywood community, block by block.
.
Infrastructure

• In January 2018, the board voted unanimously to establish a

commission of experts and community stakeholders who would explore the
feasibility of the village tapping into a water source in Maywood that
officials say runs directly underneath the Prairie Path and flows through to
DuPage County. If such a measure is implemented, Maywood would no
longer be reliant on Melrose Park for transmitting water, a service for
which the village pays Melrose Park $1.8 million a year, according to an
estimate by Maywood Village Manager Willie Norfleet. Since its creation,
however, there is no evidence that the committee has met.

Do you agree with the committee’s formation? (see prior response)

If so, how will you ensure that the committee actually meets regularly and
do what it was created to do? (see prior response)

• How do you propose that the village fund much-needed infrastructure

projects, such as long overdue roadway and alley improvements, that are not
eligible for alternative forms of revenue, such as TIF funding; and county,
state and/or federal grants?

These TIF surplus funds should be distributed to projects to include

constructing buildings or other private improvements, cleaning polluted
areas, redeveloping areas that contain blight, or paying for public
improvements such as streets, sidewalks, sewer and water, and similar
improvements.

Revenue

• For the last several years, the board has approved 3 to 4 percent annual
levy increases — despite staff recommending increases that are higher — in
an effort to address residents’ property tax burden. A major result of these
minimal levy increases, however, has been that the village has forgone
potentially millions of dollars in much-needed annual tax revenue over that
time period. That translates into the village having to make emergency
purchases, such as the acquisition of a nearly $1 million aerial ladder truck
for the fire department, by taking out loans that only add to the village’s debt
load. How would you balance the need to collect tax revenue with legitimate
concerns about residents’ property tax burden?

Maywood property taxes are too high. We will lobby Springfield to reduce
property taxes in order to allow our community to have an opportunity to
grow and develop into a thriving business. We must begin to attract new
businesses and developers into our community. I have already developed
such a plan.

Finance

• What are some of your ideas for addressing Maywood’s annual

deficit? It’s low credit rating?
When government cuts spending too much, economic growth will slow.
That leads to lower revenues and potentially a larger deficit.

Trust

• What are your thoughts on the level of trust that residents have in
village officials to responsibly serve their interests? Do you think that trust
between residents and village officials needs to be improved? If so, how
would you work to help improve it?

NO - As your next group of Trustees we will listen to our residents and

their concerns. We will rebuild our community from within. This will
help to strength our economy.

• The population of Maywood has changed rather dramatically in the

last 10 years, with the village having experienced a significant infusion of
Hispanic residents. For instance, the student population of both Districts 89
and 209 are more than 50 percent Hispanic. Do you believe that this
growing demographic is adequately represented in the village? If not, what
are some of your ideas for reaching out to the Hispanic community in
Maywood?
NO - we the My Maywood slate is the ONLY slate offering diversity.
Our Outreach efforts will include the Hispanic community in Maywood
and will be implemented through our quarterly community-wide town hall
meeting.
 Business& Economic Development

• What is your position on the issuance of Class M liquor licenses for

businesses that may want to bring video gambling into Maywood?
Dr. Mary “May” Larry, Ph.D Maywood Liquor Commissioner – I am
NOT in favor of issuance of Class M liquor licenses for businesses that
may want to bring video gambling into Maywood. We must first get a
clear handle of other impressing issues within our community.
• In October 2018, the board voted 5 to 2 in favor of a resolution in
support of granting National Cycle Inc. a Cook County Sustainable
Emergency Relief Class 6b property tax incentive that company officials
estimated could translate into around $1.4 million in tax savings over 10
years— despite the very vocal objections to the tax break made by Manager
Willie Norfleet, who said that the company’s savings would potentially
mean higher tax bills for residents. How do you manage the need to provide
property tax relief for businesses with the need to make sure that already
overburdened homeowners are not bearing even more of the property tax
burden than they need to?
This should’ve have NEVER been passed! Our homeowner’s are the
one’s who need RELIEF!

• What is your understanding of Maywood’s reputation in certain

industry circles (i.e., retail, manufacturing, etc.) as a place to do business?
Do you think Maywood can improve its reputation and, if so, how?
Yes, under our leadership as the next Village Trustees Maywood can
improve its reputation with business investors under the right
administration. We currently have investors standing ready to do business
with Maywood under our NEW ADMINISTRATION. Maywood is
currently in a crisis on multiple levels. Maywood is decaying and
hemorrhaging with non-existing economic development and deteriorating
economy. The only grocery store – Aldi’s – is now closed. Maywood is now
a food desert. Under my administration, I will STOP the hemorrhaging;
we will work tirelessly to move Maywood forward as a working community
with a new beginning. On April 2nd VOTE My Maywood for Trustees of
Maywood the entire My Maywood Slate. “MAKING MAYWOOD
SECURE AGAIN!”

Governance

• What is your understanding of the role and functions of the Maywood

Board of Trustees?
 The role and functions of Maywood Board of Trustees is that the Board
functions as the legislative body in the Village of Maywood. As your next
Trustees of Maywood, we will work as a cohesive team.

• Do you think that the current village manager form of government is

sufficient? YES If not, would you support switching to a full-time mayor
form of government? N/A

• From what you can tell, is there currently a system in place that
effectively evaluates the performance of village administrators and
employees? If not, do you think one needs to be implemented?
Once elected as you’re the next Trustees of Maywood we will evaluate
everyone on an individual basis in order to move Maywood forward in a
positive and productive manner. As the next Trustees of Maywood, we will
implement mandatory – quarterly town hall meeting to include every
department head, to hear the concerns of residents. Under our
administration, we will conduct an annual survey to determine the level of
contentment within the Village, its leadership, quality of life and services
provided to the community. Our goal is to become a customer- friendly
community.
•Village Manager Willie Norfleet, Jr.,
•Police Chief Valdimir Tally,
•Fire Chief Craig Bronaugh,
•Public Works Director John West,
•Finance Director Lanya Satchell
•HR Coordinator LaSondra Banks.

• Do you believe that key village committees and commissions,

particularly the board’s finance committee and the village’s water
commission and economic development commission, are active and/or
effective enough? If not, how might you help them become more active and
effective?

Public Safety

• Do you believe that Maywood is, generally speaking, a safe

community? If so, what are some things that make this so? If not, what are
some ideas you have to make the village safer?
We need to implement community policing – Officer-friendly. A Public
Health Approach to Violence Prevention. Police once again walking the
beat in ALL seasons.

• Do you believe that the village is spending too little, just enough or too
much money to settle police misconduct and workman’s compensation
cases? If you believe too much or too little money, what are some of your
ideas for getting those expenditures to a level you believe is sufficient?
YES! We must and should take the advice of our PAID legal counsel.

Miscellaneous

• If elected, what are the three things that you would do as a member of
the Maywood Board of Trustees immediately upon your swearing-in (and
‘immediately’ means within your first two months as a board member)? Be
as specific as possible.

*Dr. Mary May Larry, Ph.D

After elected we must pay off Maywood debt. I submitted a plan to the
Maywood Village Board years ago. Part of this plan included freezing all
city hiring except for emergency personnel. Our Village of Maywood is in
debt. As a Village, we must discontinue chipping away at the debt and
instead take a bite out of the Village debt, by making bold decisions for the
betterment of our Village.
Take a close look at the TIF funding: These TIF surplus funds should be
distributed to projects to include constructing buildings or other private
improvements, cleaning polluted areas, redeveloping areas that are
blighted, or paying for public improvements such as streets, sidewalks,
sewer and water, and similar improvements.
My plan and vision is for economic development. I am a Business
Professional and “Committed Servant of the Community” and have been a
resident of Maywood for over forty-eight years. I have seen the highs and
lows of our community of Maywood and have over 25 years of success in
the business industry as a grant-writer and business consultant, and with
corporate America, which will be a great asset in moving Maywood toward
economic stability and growth, along with my knowledge of federal and
state government contracts.
I will request my colleagues to give the green light to my council of twelve
community individuals to sit with developers who stand ready with
contract proposals. I will sit with our Maywood police department to
strategize for a safer community; instituting police walking the beat in all
seasons. I will outline a blueprint and network with churches, grassroots
and non-profits to develop a safe zone for our community youth to stop the
murder and slaughtering of our children and babies.
*Nathan Lee After elected we must revisit our Village of Maywood Zoning
Ordinance. The Village of Maywood features categories of zoning
districts, including residential, business and manufacturing. We will
examine the process and procedure which is in place to reduce the red
tape to improve the process.
We will implement shrewd strategies for growth and development, to
include community planning whereas businesses thrive on a walkable
main street; families live close to their work destinations, and tourist
attractions bring investments into the local economy. Developments will
support walking, biking, and public transit which helps reduce air
pollution from vehicles while benefiting community residents as a cost
savings
We need to implement community policing – officer-friendly. If not, what
are some ideas you must make the village safer? A Public Health
Approach to Violence Prevention. Police once again walking the beat in
ALL seasons.

MY MAYWOOD CLOSING STATEMENT

WE ARE READY! Once elected we will call and reach out to our grocery
store contact and we will lobby Springfield for our rightful seat at the table
for past due municipality funding.

As the next trustees of Maywood, we will work hand-in-hand with the

Planning Department to lay out a Master Plan. A master plan typically
looks 10 to 20 years or more into the future; it must be re-assessed and
updated at regular intervals. Our community's vision for the future had
not been comprehensively evaluated for a long time.

Under OUR leadership, we will outline a new vision for the Village of
Maywood. That vision will cover a broad range of topics that are
important to quality of life (for example, schools, public safety,
infrastructure and job training.)

Yes, under my leadership we will lay out a plan for long-term economic
and infrastructural development of our Maywood building, roads and
allies.
*Dr. Mary “May” Larry, Ph.D
Maywood currently has a non-existing general business climate. under
our leadership we can improve our business climate within of Village of
Maywood. I will use my extensive experience as a businesswoman, and
my many leadership accomplishments as a business Consultant, and my
25 years of knowledge in the business industry in corporate America to
make the Village of Maywood Secure Again.
Under our leadership as Trustee, the Village of Maywood would indeed
make a major step forward.

These are just few reasons Maywood residents are supporting the My
Maywood campaign for Trustee for the Village of Maywood, and why you
should do the same. Contact us and We will be happy to send additional
information, as well as facts about the issues that make this election so
important.

Our campaign Email address: marymaylarry@gmail.com

Websites address: www.mymaywood.com

Thank you for your time, support and I hope you’ll join us in WINNING the
office of Trustees for the Village of Maywood on April 2, 2019!
VOTE the My Maywood Team FOR Trustees of Maywood.

Warm Regards,

Dr. Mary May Larry, Ph.D.

Punch # on April 2nd, 2019 For Trustee of Maywood

Nathan Lee
Punch # on April 2nd, 2019 For Trustee of Maywood

JoAnn Murphy
Punch # on April 2nd, 2019 For Trustee of Maywood