Meet Palos Township Assessor Candidate Sharon Brannigan

PALOS HILLS, IL — Sharon Brannigan was twice elected a Palos Township trustee in 2013 and 2017. She is running for office of township assessor in the April 6 election.

Name: Sharon Brannigan

Age (as of Election Day): 59

Town/City of Residence: Palos Heights

Office Sought: Palos Township Assessor

Party Affiliation (if a partisan race): Republican

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No

Education

Governors State University, BA, Moraine Valley Community College, AS

Occupation: self-employed for 13 years

Campaign website: www.votebrannigan.com

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: Elected Palos Township Trustee 2013, reelected 2017 to present.

The single most pressing issue facing Palos Township, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Elected officials’ pensions. By winning this position, I will eliminate one pension from Palos Township's books by not accepting the state offered pension or healthcare.

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?

The first point I would like to make is that the Patch now seems to sugarcoat the riots by calling them "demonstrations" as shown above. Having said that and knowing the reader recognizes the difference between a "demonstration" and a "riot", I will say the following:

I support Americans right to choose their path in life as our beloved Constitution sets forth for us to "pursue happiness" as we see fit.

What I don't support is the trampling of other people's rights while one group is violently and in a Marxist and fascist manner trying to get their point across. Case in point, all the riots that we witnessed during the summer of 2020 following the death of George Floyd that occurred across the United States in cities like Chicago, Kenosha, Portland and Seattle to name a few. The rioters saw fit to loot, burn and destroy properties some of which will never come back. Some of those properties were the result of decades of work by families who lost everything.

What I don't support is "Defunding Police" in order to force the BLM agenda as indicated on their website. I support Law and Order, individual liberty and living in a civilized society where respect is a two-way street regardless of color or any other category one wishes to assign an individual.

While BLM as indicated on their website and in the BLM 2020 Impact Report, may not want to remember what havoc they wreaked, i.e. the very first sentence, "We don't need to recap, as Black people are intimately familiar with our societal shortcomings. This year they were especially glaring." However, I think we can acknowledge on all sides that the string of events triggered will have no resolution unless both sides are willing to sit down and reasonably talk about their grievances. There are events that BLM was responsible for that will never be forgotten and I, for one, will make sure that is the case.

The position that I am running for as Township Assessor has no legislative or bargaining power and really has no impact on which way the powers that be need to resolve this matter. The Township Assessor helps all residents of the Township no matter what their personal background may be and I, for one, will see to it that is standard operating procedure.
In conclusion, be it know that I go into every new venture in my life with an open mind and an open heart.

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

The board has done exceptionally well and has adhered to every policy or mandate sent from the governor's office.

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?

The Governor's attempt at the response to the vaccination demand has been dismal at best. From vast shortages to prioritizing the most at risk groups seems to have been gotten lost in the hierarchy of elites.

Having said that, I think if people want to get vaccinated, they should be able to do so. I do not believe it should be required of anyone for any purpose. People are quite capable of deciding for themselves what is good or what is bad for each and the last thing they need is the government telling them it is a necessity. Individual critical thinking and coming to a conclusion for yourself is a personal responsibility that is often overlooked by our government. With a virus that has about a 98 percent or better survival rate, I think a person can decide for themselves which avenue to pursue.

I do not favor any measure limiting businesses for what they can and cannot do. I believe that giving businesses the best possible and most current information and then allowing the business owner to adjust their operations is the best avenue to pursue. I have confidence that Americans will do what is right and just for themselves and their customers.

I do not favor a local mask mandate. In fact, it abhors me to even thank that something like that would be a consideration. There is not one credible study that masks work. Again, personal responsibility in determining what is good for you should not be infringed upon by any other person or much less a governmental body or official.

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?

It is shameful that the mainstream media has gas lit the American people with fear about the virus coupled with the incompetency of the government to distribute the vaccine in a coherent systematic disbursement. I don't think local governments such as our Township should handle the vaccine rollout because

1. I think the more people involved would just create more avenues that the virus would/could spread. After all, we were told it is our job to slow the spread.

2. I think partnering with the mainstream media and its fearmongering is not beneficial to township residents.

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

1. Refusing the state offered pension and healthcare. Retiring the pension the current assessor takes is at the heart of all the elected officials and the poor financial condition the State of Illinois finds itself. Maloney has been on this post for years and never once has he offered to freeze his pension and help the Township and State become more fiscally responsible.
2. Maloney has unequivocally supported Governor Pritzker's unconstitutional illogical mandates regarding business shutdowns and all COVID-19 restrictions.
3. He has supported President Cook County Commissioner Toni Preckwinkle's band of thugs who stormed and/or protested at Palos Township Offices each month for the last almost four years even at one point taking over the Board's seats without as much of a peep condemning those actions. More information can be found on my website, www.votebrannigan.com.

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

The current assessor had overspent on his allowed budget in recent years and had forced the Township Board to make adjustments of their budget in order to cover the commitments made by the irresponsible current Assessor.2

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Persevering to achieve the best results of comparable properties when our residents bring in their property tax bills for help and being available for those residents when needed.

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

Currently, I am a self-employed business owner of a flower shop in Orland Park, Illinois. If anyone knows the many hats worn as a self-employed person, the categories are too numerous to completely name, but a few overlapping would be public relations, personal availability, inventory, reports, taxes and payroll.

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

Convincing the entire elected Board to freeze their pensions. Taking personal responsibility and gaining public trust can only be done by individuals willing to be true servants of the people.

Why should voters trust you?

I am a solid conservative candidate with a record to show as a twice elected Township Trustee that I am reliable and steadfast in my commitment to serve the area I have lived my entire life.

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

The best policy is absolute transparency of all steps taken for decisions made on spending taxpayer dollars.

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

None

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Live and let live.

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

I am accountable for all my words and actions.

If you're a local candidate and would like to participate in a candidate's survey please email lorraine.swanson@patch.com.