Bowles recently filled out the Patch candidate survey, and her answers can be seen below.

If you are a candidate for the April election, and would like to answer our Patch candidate questionnaire, please email yasmeen.sheikah@patch.com.

Andrea Bowles

Age (as of Election Day)

49

Town/City of Residence

Orland Park

Office Sought

Township board

Party Affiliation (if a partisan race)

Orland Residents for Responsible Government

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

A.A.S. in Dental Hygiene, Prairie State College 1998

Occupation

Dental Hygienist

Campaign website

ResponsibleOrland.com

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

No

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

I believe transparency is the most important issue. With transparency will come efficiency, honesty and accountability.

Do you support Black Lives Matter and what are your thoughts on the demonstrations held since the death of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake?

I support the constitution and the law.

Do you think the current board has done enough to support racial equality, and if not, what specifically should be done to do so?

I am not able to see if there is any issue with equality. Without transparency, the exact numbers of residents helped or any categories pertaining to them, are not visible. I do know that Orland Residents for Responsible Government has every intention to listen and deliver services for ALL that need them. We are excited to find more efficient ways to inform the townships residents of the services we offer.

What are your thoughts on the national and local coronavirus response? Do you favor measures such as limiting operation of non-essential businesses and restricting indoor/outdoor dining? And do you favor a local mask mandate?

Our National leadership rolled out the vaccine to the state level swiftly,without barriers to cost or access. Mass vaccination (especially with 2 doses), created a logistical hurdle, but appears to be getting delivered through the scheduled phases successfully. I believe business owners have the responsibility to be open and follow safety procedures appropriate for their line of business. Consumers should follow the guidelines. Unions, engineers and the government set the building codes for employee and structure safety. Professional licences, sanitation certificates and business licences set parameters for health and safety. OSHA has strict protocol for procedure and standards of safety. These governing entities have already set the strict protocol to avoid cross contamination and demand universal precautions. The township could have had classes with less participants. Online classes could have been an option.

What are your thoughts on the state and local coronavirus vaccine distribution, and how do you think local governments should work together to handle vaccine rollout?

I’d work with our county health department and cooperate however possible to ensure that the vaccine rollout picks up pace. We all want this pandemic to end and know that working together we can make an impact.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I’m a resident and a first-time candidate who will bring a fresh voice and ideas for our township. Paul O’Grady has puppets that are his “yes” men. I will listen to the residents and the board and have dialogue as we collaborate as a team for the best outcomes for the township.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

It appears the last 10 months, the only “open” services were the “photo-ops” for the incumbents. Leadership should have found creative ways to reach and guide the residents during the pandemic. They only recently updated the website (just in time for election). If I were elected, online education and appointment capability, and access to medical safety guidelines and protocol for activities, this township would have been in 2020, not 1985. Combining the resources and powers of the villages and the township, they could have been a better support for the residents during this pandemic.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Our Orland Residents for Responsible Government team is made up of political outsiders who simply want to serve our community. We’re not beholden to special interests, and we’re not looking to get rich off taxpayers or make this a career. We want term limits and are not interested in pensions. The website is a roadblock to fiscal transparency, which makes one wonder about the accountability on the inside. If there was openness with checks and balances, I am sure the recent embezzlement of $60,000, over a 2 year period, from their employee, would have been caught and dealt with earlier.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

The best advice ever shared with me was:

If you want something bad enough, you will figure it out.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Many seniors and their caretaker have expressed to me that they are interested in signing up for rides and activities online. I would push for and find a way to meet that need. Mental health has been an issue for many (children, parents and seniors) during this time and expanding available services are important to the residents.