Meet New Lenox Township Trustee Candidate: Michelle Fadeley

NEW LENOX, IL — Michelle Fadeley is one of eight candidates running for four open positions for trustee on the New Lenox Township Board. Fadeley works as a marketing manager and has a degree in marketing, distribution management, and international business.

Fadeley recently filled out the Patch candidate survey, and her answers can be found below:

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

Name: Michelle Fadeley

Age (as of Election Day):

37

Town/City of Residence:

Joliet

Office Sought:

Township board

Party Affiliation (if a partisan race):

Democratic

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Bachelor of Science in Marketing, Distribution Management, and International Business

Occupation

Marketing Manager for over 15 years

Campaign website: Can be found here.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office:

None

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

Transparency is the most pressing issue. Not only is navigating the Township government website challenging and not user-friendly or mobile compatible, but there is outdated information published, and a lack of information when it comes to taxpayer dollars being spent on salaries and over a $1.1 million dollar surplus not being used for taxpayer services. I have years of website management experience and will not only be able to update the website to be more user-friendly on any device and at a lower cost than the $4k/year currently being spent, but will also work to ensure information is promptly updated, better distributed, and taxpayer dollars is more clearly tracked.

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?

Given Township government's primary role is related to providing services to the indigent, and has no role in policing or public demonstrations, I will instead address the Township's role in helping to combat inequality. People of color are statistically more likely to live in poverty and need assistance. By ensuring discrimination-free access to these services, we are making a difference in families' ability to provide for their future. These are vital services in combating inequality, as racism is inextricably and historically intertwined with classism.

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

One thing we can improve upon what the current board has done is expand accessibility to Township services, which will help to provide assistance to everyone who needs them, not just a subset. For example, food pantry hours should include some outside the 9-5 weekday hours for those who are working low-wage jobs and cannot get to the food pantry until late evening or weekends. Additionally, many indigent don't have reliable internet access, and many only access the internet on their mobile phones. We need to have a website that is mobile compatible, and have more ways to reach residents about services than through the website. A majority of people of all ages, including seniors, are now on Facebook, and it would be easy and free to have a presence on Facebook for information on services. Access to services for all people will help to reduce inequality.

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?

I am always in favor of following health recommendations by the experts in the field. The initial vaccine roll-out lacked organization and direction from the federal government to local entities, causing a lot of confusion and overall shortage of available doses. We are now beginning to see improved distribution, and greater confidence in the vaccine. There could still be improvements to ensuring elderly and immune-compromised individuals are getting first access, but it is great to see the quickly-increasing number of vaccinations.

All of this will lead to the ability to loosen restrictions on businesses, including retail and dining, which will benefit people's economic well-being in addition to their health and safety. In the meantime, we need to protect the vulnerable and elderly by wearing masks, and I will advocate for that in all areas Township government plays a role - including at monthly meetings and for any of our employees or volunteers interacting with residents.

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?

As mentioned above, there have been fast improvements in the past couple of months in vaccine distribution, including improved partnership between levels of government. However, there could still be further improvements to ensuring elderly and immune-compromised individuals are getting first access, as many are finding it extremely challenging to get an appointment for a vaccine. Any way that local governments can form partnerships to enable better access for the most vulnerable should be instituted.

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

I am committed to ensuring our Township residents have greater awareness and engagement with their Township government and what is being done with their Township taxes. I will not be just a seat warmer for the position, and will not accept campaign contributions from vendors - a clear conflict of interest.

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

The majority of Township residents do not know about Township government, what it is responsible for, when the meetings are, or what services it provides. There is a failure to make an effort to engage residents, with an outdated website that is not mobile-compatible, no social media presence, no digital newsletter, and no streaming of meetings on YouTube or social media. I believe we need to reach and communicate with residents where they are. Currently residents must not only know the Township website, but remember to visit regularly to be up to date on information. A once-per-year print newsletter is not sufficient.

Additionally, it concerns me that some financial information about taxpayer dollars is not transparently published, as well as the D2 reports showing they have accepted campaign contributions from vendors, a disturbing conflict of interest.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

I want to be proactive in finding new and innovative ways to engage with residents to bring greater awareness and partnership between Township government and its residents. I would like to explore having a presence at local community events - like fairs and festivals - or have information available on our services linked with the Village and County websites, pamphlets at Township grocery stores and coffee shops, and update our website so that it becomes a true resource for residents, where even services that the Township does not offer are given a referral for the branch of government, business, or non-profit that does offer those services. Finally, there should be an easy way for residents to communicate with Township government - surveys, comments/complaints, suggestions, etc.

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

The skills and knowledge I have built over 15 years in marketing will be an enormous asset in improving Township government awareness and engagement with its residents. From the website, to social media, email and print newsletters, event management, print pamphlets and flyers, partnership development, and communication - I can make Township government a go-to resource, increasing community knowledge and access of the great services we provide, and a place they trust to manage their taxpayer dollars with transparency and integrity. As part of my career, I also have regularly managed global marketing budgets with integrity, and lead cross-functional teams with cohesion.

Finally, I have a long, successful history of community advocacy, working to provide awareness, referrals, and services to those who need them - from the homeless to nursing home services to park clean-ups to domestic violence shelter services and more.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?

I believe more than one accomplishment is needed to call my service in government in success; and that will be reflected by having a majority - instead of a minority - aware of the range of services Township government provides them.

Why should voters trust you?

In addition to having a life-long track record of community advocacy in a volunteer capacity, I am known as being someone who is very authentic and works with integrity. I also am not bought and paid for by any Township vendors, which is something I believe voters need to seriously consider when looking at the current incumbents on their ballot. I am running because I truly believe we need to bring trust back into government, which can't be done without transparency, integrity, and community engagement.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the use of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

I am strongly in favor of transparency in taxpayer dollar spending, as well as integrity in how it is being spent. I am concerned that there has been over $1.1 million dollars of surplus sitting in Township government, and would like to know why taxpayer dollars are not being used to provide more access to services they have been promised, especially during a year when we have the impacts of a pandemic causing an increase in need for the food pantry, which has very limited hours right now - making it hard to access outside of 9-5 weekday working hours.
Additionally, I feel some expenses need to be seriously reviewed - for example, I am confident we can provide an updated, user-friendly website at a much lower cost than the current $4,000 / year being spent for the outdated website that currently exists.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

No, there is no reason I would not serve my full term of office outside of health or family.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Don't worry about the things you cannot change; worry about the things you can.

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

I look forward to being of service to them and the community. I am driven to ensure Township taxpayers know their money is being spent with integrity and transparency, and that the people representing them really care about representing them well, going above and beyond just filling the seat and bare-bones management.