Trustee Vandenberg Announces Candidacy for Tinley Park Mayor

TINLEY PARK, IL — Concerned Citizens for Tinley announced Saturday that Village Trustee Jacob Vandenberg will seek the office of Village President in the April 2017 Municipal Election. During his announcement speech, he introduced the entire slate of candidates running as Concerned Citizens for Tinley.

A press release sent Saturday touts that Vandenberg "has spearheaded sweeping changes, leading to increased accountability, transparency, and fiscal responsibility."

“I’m proud of the work that my CCTP colleagues and I have accomplished since being elected in 2015 including; forcing a repeal of the controversial elected official pay bump ordinance (Longevity pay) and mandating that Village Board meetings be televised and live streamed," Vandenberg said. "However, the status quo has resisted these types of changes the Village needs to continue to grow and thrive. I’m confident that my slate and I can bring forth those changes."

Vandenberg stated that he and his slate are looking forward to conducting a “listening tour” throughout the Village in the coming months; visiting homes and businesses throughout the Village.

“If there is one thing that has been made clear to me during my time as Trustee, it’s that residents of Tinley Park want to be involved in their government and are frustrated that only and handful of insiders have controlled Tinley Park for decades," Vandenberg said. "Our campaign will be about bringing people together and adding more residents who want to be a part of Tinley Park’s next great chapter.”

Vandenberg along with current CCTP Trustees Brian Younker and Michael Pannitto unseated three of former mayor Ed Zabrocki’s Team Tinley Candidates in April of 2015. Vandenberg is a lifelong Tinley Park resident. His loving wife of 5 years Carrie and he has two sons Oliver (3) and Logan (1).

In introducing his slate, Vandenberg highlighted the passion each has for Tinley Park and the fresh ideas each has for the Village.

“I couldn’t be more excited about the folks I’m running with. First and foremost, I wanted to run with people who loved Tinley Park and are committed to its future. I didn’t care about their clout or previous experience with Tinley Park’s government as that’s the model of our opponents, which has led the Village into trouble time and time again."

CCTP 2017 Slate

Jacob C. Vandenberg, Candidate for Village President

Jacob C. Vandenberg was elected to the Tinley Park Village Board in 2015 and is Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Committee. He is a life-long resident of Tinley Park and a graduate of both St. George and Providence Catholic High schools. He resides in Tinley Park with his wife, Carrie and his sons, Oliver (3) and Logan (1). He and his family are parishioners of St. Stephen Deacon & Martyr Church.

Vandenberg is chief executive officer and a fourth-generation funeral director at Vandenberg Funeral Home, a family-owned small business with locations in Tinley Park and Mokena. He has been a licensed funeral director in the State of Illinois since 2006.

He served as Orland Township Trustee from 2009 to 2015. While in office he was co-chair of the Orland Township Finance Committee and co-chair of the Orland Township Scholarship Foundation. He has organized and managed annual community events, all of which benefited the Orland Township Scholarship and Orland Township Food Pantry.

Vandenberg is a member of the Tinley Park Chamber of Commerce, the Illinois Funeral Directors Association, the National Funeral Directors Association and a member of the Knights of Columbus Fr. C.C. Boyle Council 4698.

Kristin A. Thirion, Candidate for Village Clerk

Kristin A. Thirion has been a public high school educator in CHSD 220 for 12 years. She holds a BA in German and Russian from the University of Illinois at Chicago, a BA in English Secondary Education from Governors State University, and an MAEd. in Literacy Education from Olivet-Nazarene University.

Thirion enlisted in the US Army prior to her high school graduation to study Russian at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California and serve in the Military Intelligence Corps.

She and her husband, Sven, were among the founding members of the Tinley Park Arts Council in 2004 and were instrumental in establishing the first Tinley Park Fine Arts Festival in 2005. A resident of Tinley Park for over twelve years, Kristin is a strong advocate of government transparency and accountability.

Cynthia A. Berg, Candidate for Village Trustee

Cynthia A. Berg, along with her two adult children and her entire family are lifelong residents of Tinley Park. As a child, she attended elementary and middle school in Kirby School District 140. Following her early childhood education, she became a proud graduate of the first graduating class at Victor J. Andrew High School. After graduating from high school, she continued her educational endeavors, enrolling at Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.

Her career in health care has included a variety of diverse experiences and settings which included roles in management. Her specialty was providing leadership in the Operating Room, which encompassed the majority of her 31 years of experience as a Registered Nurse. Berg volunteered time and traveled to Guatemala and the Dominican Republic, where she assisted the in surgeries in the most poverty-stricken.

She currently is employed by Bloom Township School District 206 as the school nurse at Bloom Trail High School in Chicago Heights, Illinois.

Her objective as a Village Trustee would be to apply her passion to help care for others and exhibit her professional career experiences. She looks forward to having the opportunity to serve her community as a Trustee with the residents concerns at the forefront.

William P. Brady, Candidate for Village Trustee

Bill Brady and his wife Bette have been residents of Tinley Park for over 23 years. They have 2 children, Sean, 23 and Megan, 20. Both children are graduates of Andrew High School.

Brady ran a successful business in Oak Lawn for 33 years. He devotes his time to Boy Scouts. He is one of the founders and committee chairman of Boy Scout Troop 9-1-1, chartered by the Tinley Park Police Department’s Crime Prevention and the Tinley Park American Legion Post #615. Bill is also a committee member of Scout Crew 422. Their son, Sean, is an Eagle Scout. Not only is Bill committed to community service, but Bette also served as a Girl Scout leader for 12 years, also serving as Secretary and Association Chair in Tinley Park. She also served as chair of numerous association events. Bette then transferred her volunteering to the Andrew High School theatre by helping serve the numerous dinners over the 20 some plays that both Sean and Megan were a part of throughout high school.

When Brady retired, he decided to give back to his community by taking on a part-time position with the Orland Township Senior Service Department as a driver and various other duties as needed. In his spare time he volunteers for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources as a hunting and boating safety master instructor.

Brady and his family are members of St. Stephen Deacon and Martyr Church. Both Bill and Bette are Eucharistic Ministers and have helped out on many church functions.

Michael W. Glotz, Candidate for Village Trustee

Michael W. Glotz and his wife Kristie have lived in Tinley Park for the past 22 years, also the duration of their marriage; they have raised 2 children, daughter, Katie, and son, Kyle, both are attending college. Glotz and his family attend Parkview Christian Church.

He is a member of Local 150 Operating Engineers and a proud Union Steward for Local 150. Through many years in the field, his experience has been utilized by his company to manage many large projects and assist in sales due to the positive relationships he has developed with clients.

He has volunteered as a girls softball and boys baseball coach for the Tinley Park Bulldogs Organization and the Southwest Raiders Travel Baseball team in Orland Hills.

If elected, he promises he will serve this town and the needs of the people to the best of his abilities.

For more information, visit the Concerned Citizens for Tinley Facebook page or stay tuned to www.cctp2017.com