Sheldon Watts Files For Mayor With BIV Team

Sheldon Watts & The Bolingbrook Independent Voices File Petitions for Mayor Of Bolingbrook, Clerk, and Three Trustee Seats After Collecting Nearly 2,000 Signatures

BOLINGBROOK, ILLINOIS – Bolingbrook Village Trustee Sheldon Watts announced his candidacy for Mayor of Bolingbrook in the April 2021 municipal election several weeks ago on social media, and after collecting nearly 2,000 signatures the Bolingbrook Independent Voices team filed their petition nomination papers yesterday to be placed on the ballot.

Sheldon Watts has dedicated himself as an avid volunteer, community advocate, and an elected community leader in Bolingbrook for over a decade. He was appointed to Bolingbrook’s Village Board in 2017 to fill a vacancy created due to the passing of beloved and long serving Trustee and Deputy Mayor Leroy J. Brown. Sheldon was then elected with the most votes on April 2, 2019 to a four-year term. He currently serves as Chairman of the Public Safety Committee and member of the Finance Committee. Prior to serving on the village board, Watts served as an elected DuPage Township Trustee and as an appointed member of the Bolingbrook Zoning Board of Appeals Commission. Watts has worked in the private sector in the technology industry for over 23 years.

Named Bolingbrook’s Male Citizen of the Year in 2014, Watts has been a strong supporter of Bolingbrook youth programming and activities for many years. This is exhibited through his mentoring efforts and as President and Founder of the Bolingbrook STEM Association, where the mission is promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Math for the Youth. Business development and bringing awareness of resources in the community has also been a focus through his roles as board member of the Will County Center for Community Concerns and being the Founder of the “Brunch in the Brook” Minority Business Networking Forum.

“I view Bolingbrook as a great place to raise a family,” said Watts, “But we need to focus more on the needs of all residents so that our entire community can soar in every aspect of life.” Watts describes his community leadership style as being a people focused grassroots collaborator. “The infrastructure of our community is in place, and that needs to be maintained and improved upon, but we now need to be more people focused, ensuring everyone is included in the process and progress.”

Addressing a highly debated issue in Bolingbrook, Watts announced, “One of our first actions will be to roll out a voluntary / optional garbage toter program of which residents have very strong opinions. We need to finally move past this matter.” Other highlights of Bolingbrook Independent Voices platform include the implementation of technological advancements within village hall and identifying operational improvements and new non-property tax revenue streams. “Safety of our community is something you can count on us to take very seriously. A proactive policing strategy that incorporates an expansion of our community policing programs is a top priority of ours, in addition to promptly resolving police and fire union contracts moving forward.”

“I believe all government needs to be transparent, accountable, and interactive with the people it serves. I have been accessible and responsive as a trustee, and I will continue to do so as your Mayor. I’m running because I love the Bolingbrook community,” said Watts. “I believe I’m uniquely qualified being experienced from a professional perspective, government leadership perspective and community service perspective. I’ve had the opportunity to speak to countless residents who agree that it’s time that we put the residents first.”

Watts is a graduate of Roosevelt University with both a B.A. and M.B.A., and is also working on PhD in Organizational Leadership at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. A Bolingbrook resident for 13 years, Sheldon is a devoted husband and father to six-year-old twins.

The slate of forward thinking, experienced, and community focused leaders running with Watts as members of the Bolingbrook Independent Voices includes:

Faith Kinsman-Jones, candidate for Village Clerk, is a Substitute Teacher (Plainfield & Valley View), the president of the Bolingbrook Women’s Club and long-time volunteer in the community.

Inez Flores, candidate for Village Trustee, is a mortgage loan officer and non-profit leader that has been focused on providing resources to the Latinx community, and currently serves as a Village Plan Commissioner.

Patti Chow, Candidate for Village Trustee, is an elementary school assistant principal, certified ESL Bilingual Instructor (Spanish) and university instructor who also volunteers with multiple organizations.

Meraj Alam, candidate for Village Trustee, is an entrepreneur with a technology background and serves on the Board of Directors for Chi-Care, a non-profit that focuses on providing meals for the homeless and those in need.

More information about the candidates, their platform, and to watch their announcement videos please log onto www.bolingbrookindependentvoic...