ALSIP, IL — Catalina Nava-Esparza is running for re-election to the office of village trustee on the Better Government for Alsip slate in the April 6 election. Name: Catalina Nava-Esparza Age (as of Election Day): 36 Town/City of Residence: Alsip Office Sought: Alsip Village Trustee (incumbent) Party Affiliation (if a partisan race): none Does anyone
ALSIP, IL — Catalina Nava-Esparza is running for re-election to the office of village trustee on the Better Government for Alsip slate in the April 6 election.
Name: Catalina Nava-Esparza
Age (as of Election Day): 36
Town/City of Residence: Alsip
Office Sought: Alsip Village Trustee (incumbent)
Party Affiliation (if a partisan race): none
Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
Members of my family have been employed in the public sector or are currently employed in the public sector. None are employed by the Village of Alsip.
Education
Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Economics and a Master’s in Urban Planning & Policy (MUPP) degree from University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). I also earned a Certificate in Geospatial Analysis & Visualization (GSAV) from UIC.
Occupation: Director of Strategic Initiatives for a faith based non-profit. I have over 10 years of experience in research, management, strategic planning, and external affairs via my current and previous work experience.
Campaign website: Better Government for Alsip Facebook page
Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: Alsip village trustee; elected in 2019 for a two year un-expired term.
The single most pressing issue facing Alsip, and this is what I intend to do about it.
At this time, the most pressing issue is the COVID-19 pandemic and the expected negative economic impacts of a COVID-19 recession. At the municipal level we are faced with trying to plan for an uncertain economic future without reducing levels of service. As a Trustee, I have actively tried to connect our business community to resources at the federal, state, and local level. Via my outreach efforts I was able to connect our business community to the IL Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Business Interruption Grant (BIG) program. As a result, 15 Alsip businesses were awarded grant monies from the DCEO. I will continue to connect our business community to resources if I am re-elected. In addition, as a Trustee I will continue to support and propose policies to ensure the fiscal health of our Village and attract new development to our community. The Cicero Ave corridor would be an area to focus our future economic development efforts.
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?
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Do you think the current board has done enough to support racial equality, and if not, what specifically should be done to do so?
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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?
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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?
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What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I have demonstrated that I am a self-starter and not afraid to propose ideas and solutions. As a Trustee, I successfully petitioned the Village Board to approve an amendment of the simplified telecommunication fee – which impacts the provider – in order to generate additional revenue for the Village. I also successfully petitioned the Village Board to expand the Safe Exchange Zone and to create an Economic Development Intern position. Furthermore, I volunteered to lead 2020 Census Outreach efforts for the Village of Alsip. As a result, I was able to secure a $10,000 Census grant to enhance outreach efforts and the Village of Alsip surpassed it’s 2010 Census response rate which means more funding and resources for our community.
It is unclear if the incumbent candidates of the opposing party have ever led any initiative in the four years of their term as an elected official. In addition, the incumbent candidates have demonstrated poor decision making in their current roles. In contrast, I have demonstrated my commitment to Alsip by securing additional resources and advocating for our community.
If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)? Not applicable.
Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.
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What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
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If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?
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Why should voters trust you?
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What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the use of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?
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Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?
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The best advice ever shared with me was …
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What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
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