Deborah Politsch, candidate for trustee in New Athens, IL
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More on the election for New Athens trustee
Read all the questionnaires from candidates in the New Athens trustee race. Candidates are listed alphabetically.
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Name: Deborah “Debby” Politsch
Political party (if applicable): N/A
Age as of April 6, 2021: 63
Campaign website or social media page: N/A
Office seeking: Board of Trustees - Village of New Athens (4-year term)
Are you an incumbent? No
Previous offices sought: New Athens District Library (2005-present)
Occupation: Retired from Southwestern Illinois College, Manager of Student Accounts/Executive Assistant
Education: Associate of Applied Science in computer information systems from SWIC and Bachelor of Science in organizational leadership from Greenville College
Please list highlights of your civic involvement: New Athens Library Board - President, St. John UCC, New Athens PTO, Girl Scouts
Why are you running? I’ve lived in New Athens my entire life. I am invested in the past, present and future of the community. This is a great town to live and raise a family. I want to do whatever I can to help rebuild our town, restore growth and opportunities and keep New Athens a safe community to reside.
What is the top issue in your race, and how would you address it? As I said, this is small town living at its finest! But, as many residents will tell you, the condition of the town has deteriorated over the years. As I was talking to residents recently about a local issue, the one thing I heard the most was how former family, friends and visitors comment on the condition of areas of the town. Abandoned and neglected properties should be addressed for the betterment of the community.
The marina is a very important issue. The marina and campgrounds have been vacant for several years. To be properly utilized, operational decisions should be carefully considered.
Why should people vote for you? Issues impacting the operations, finances, obligations, etc., of the village should be first and forefront! I want to be a part of a proactive board where we think forward. If something is broken now, what can we do to fix it, but at the same time consider how this decision will benefit or effect the town down the road. Long-range planning and a maintenance schedule should be implemented regarding our streets, sidewalks and infrastructure needs.
The marina and campground area is another area requiring thorough planning and consideration. A group of concerned citizens attended board meetings to bring attention to the abandoned marina property. The current board was ready to write off a large debt and move on. After continued interest from citizens, the village took the opportunity to fight the case, and now the village is in a much better position with the marina.
Communication within the town is virtually nonexistent. People utilize social media and the internet so much and we, as a town, need to be on board with that. I would like to see more sharing of information and an active website where residents can get accurate and up-to-date information. I’d also recommend using the automated call system more regularly. That is truly the only way to reach each household.
I will be an active listener to the concerns of our residents and work to achieve transparency and open communication.
This story was originally published March 3, 2021 at 10:29 AM.