Nicole Milovich-Walters
March 28, 2011 1:42PM
Nicloe Milovich-Walters, candidate Palos Park. | Supplied photo
Office sought: Commissioner
Address: 11617 South Highwood Drive, Palos Park, Il 60464
Date of Birth: May 12, 1968
Contact information: NMilovich-Walters@palospark.org
Education: B.S. University of Wisconsin – Madison; Law Degree – John Marshall Law School
Occupation: Attorney & Business Owner, Nicole Milovich Investigations, Inc; Walters Law Group
List all sources of income: Nicole Milovich Investigations, Inc; Village of Palos Park
Spouse: Todd Walters – self employed, Walters Law Group
Children: Daughter Alexandra – age 19 She is currently attending University of Wisconsin- Madison
She was employed by City of Palos Heights during the past summer as morning manager of the Palos Pool and hopes to do so again this coming summer
Daughter Sydney – age 7 and a student at Palos East
Please list any relatives, including in-laws, who are employed by a government agency at the federal, state or local levels. What are their job titles and with what agency are they employed. None.
What other elected offices have you sought? What year?
I was appointed as Commissioner of Palos Park in 2007 and elected Commissioner in 2009.
Have you ever been arrested or charged with a crime? No
Do you have any criminal convictions on your record? No
Political experience: Commissioner for the Village of Palos Park from 2007 to present; Appointed to Palos Park Recreation Board 2004
What are the two most important issues facing your constituents?
We need to increase revenues within Palos Park without taxing our residents. I feel we need to continue to find creative ways to bring more revenue into Palos Park without disturbing the rural splendor of our community. Many communities are suffering during these tough economic times. Palos Park has surely felt it but we were prepared for it, which allowed us to continue servicing residents in the manner to which they have become accustomed. The second issue that I feel needs to be discussed is our infrastructure and its need for repair. Over twenty years ago Palos Park took out a bond to repair and repave every Village street. As a result of all the streets being done at once, they all need to be repaired at the same time. We primarily rely upon the ½ percent sales tax and MFT money from the State of Illinois to repair our infrastructure. This is not enough to repave all the roads, so I am always looking for new, innovative and cost effective products that would allow us to make our roads last longer.
Please explain something significant you would like to accomplish within the next two years if elected to the office to which you aspire.
I feel very passionate about quality programs available through our recreation department for both young and old. I want to improve our current facilities, obtain grants to fund the construction of ball fields and a park on the land designated for recreation next to Holy Family Villa and provide a fitness room to promote wellness for Village employees, as well as, allow residents a convenient place to exercise at their own pace. I believe this is realistic within the next two years.
Please explain how you believe the office you’re seeking can help in creating local jobs.
One of the many ways to increase revenues within the Village of Palos Park is to find businesses to occupy already vacant buildings and in return these new employers would provide job growth. Additionally, we have a community development director who actively seeks out possible businesses that would like to locate and in Palos Park and are compatible with the commercial landscape of Palos Park.
Do you believe the current way Illinois pays for education is working?
I believe the school boards for District 118 and District 230 are doing an outstanding job at keeping our students at the technological forefront, without denying them access to the arts and athletics. They have a daunting task because of restrictions placed on them by what the Senators and Representatives do in Springfield. Education should be everyone’s priority. Every child deserves a quality education, which I believe our school districts do provide, but we also need to respect the teachers and give them the tools to do their job brilliantly.
Would you make any changes to the budget of the governing unit to which you are seeking elected office? If so, what?
As Commissioner, it is not a contest to see which department can get more of the money from the general fund. We work as a team. We prioritize needs across all departments and decide how to divide the funds. Of course each department would love to change the budget to provide more money for their needs but the reality is we are looking out for the best interest of the entire Village and all of its residents.
Are there any other issues you want to bring to the public’s attention?
I was raised in our neighboring town of Palos Heights. I graduated from Palos East, Palos South and Carl Sandburg High School and have watched the evolution of Palos Park and all of its surrounding area. I believe that, coupled with my multi-faceted skill set, this background and experience will allow me to serve the residents of Palos Park with an open and keenly aware mind. I am not only an attorney, but a business owner. I am a member of committees within the community and the school district. I interact with a wide variety of people on a daily basis and have an ability negotiate resolutions to problems. This diverse background affords me the ability to view things with an analytical and creative mind. It is part of my DNA to volunteer my time to projects I feel passionate about, and I feel very strongly about Palos Park. Both my parents set that example for me and I want to set that example for my children as well.
