Winfield Trustee Motivation

What motivated me to serve.

Nearly 3 years ago I left a great corporate job to grow my own consulting firm and have the flexibility to work from home and be with my children more. Being a local business, I joined the chamber. I made recommendations on how to improve things. Their response, sure have at it. This is how I ended up creating the Winfield Buyers Guide/Directory (starting in 2006) – which many told me I couldn’t get enough support in Winfield to create. In my efforts, I got out there and met with nearly 200 local business owners. I introduced myself and talked with them about their business, the chamber, and the village. I began to understand the political climate because there were some people that wouldn’t even talk to me because I said I wanted to talk to them about the Chamber. They didn’t know me, but they judged me as a Chamber Member…this was something initially I found strange.

I was then appointed to the Communications Commission, I believe because I worked closely with the Village to include them on the directory – making it a joint effort between the Village and Chamber for the benefit of the residents – more relevant/useful information. It became the welcome packet for the Village.

It was through my work with the area businesses that I felt called to get more involved. So I have been increasingly involved over the past three years, and during this time I’ve found that people have confided in me from all sides.

I have the skills to make a positive difference – this I have no doubt. My intent is to revitalize hope – reengage the people – and get things done more quickly.

How does this effect me…it’s personally rewarding to help people, I enjoy serving (my teaching/training/mentoring experiences have been some of the most rewarding work I have ever done). Additionally, our services are suffering based on insufficient tax funding. The answer (while complex) isn’t simply to propose a referendum asking residents for more money (which they don’t want to pay)…we need successful business in town; we need to be pro-business in our decisions in order to support our existing businesses and provide a successful environment for future businesses; and we certainly need to work with appropriate entities to complete and fill the existing residential developments.

I don’t want higher taxes, but I appreciate our shared services and those that work/volunteer for them. So while I will do everything I can to support these services, resident tax increases should be a last resort.

I’d like to hear from you….please reply with your first and last name, address or connection to the village, and your comments.

A Vision Of Change – Winfield

Recently, I was appointed to fill an open Trustee position on the Village of Winfield Board. While I know many of the Winfield Stakeholders, there are some I don’t know. While this message is for everyone, it is especially for those that I don’t know.

If you’re wondering: Who is Angel Oakley? What skills does she bring to the board? What can we expect from her? What are her motives? How did she get appointed unanimously? What is her position on various issues…..the underpass, downtown development, comprehensive plan, zoning, annexation, Roosevelt road, police, fire, taxes, services, growth, hospital, parks, budget, etc. While I will be posting on these shortly – My initial response is get to know me: come to a meeting and introduce yourself; feel free at any time to send me an email; post a question or comment to any of my blog posts (with this I just ask you include your real name – first and last); or call me. Ask to Join my LinkedIn or Facebook? Identify yourself with real name and address, and I’ll accept you. Read my bio; Read my blog posts…www.angeloakley.com – here you will find some insight, but again get to know me.

My approach – I did not get involved in the village to condemn the mistakes of others, I’m here to learn from the past in order that we not become destined to repeat history. “Insanity” has been defined as, “doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results.”

I am also not here to defend the decisions of others. I am simply trying to understand the thought process behind their decisions, which involves getting to know each person (that I don’t already know), as well as talking with them about the information they had before making their decision. When I feel I have received adequate information – meaning that I could clearly articulate the positions on various sides of the debate then I will feel I can fairly and justly suggest solutions and vote with full confidence that I am really representing good for the greater whole.

Until this time, I will and can express my current opinion on certain issues, but I will preface that the solutions I support in the future may very well be different based on information I am provided in my search. When I vote on something I certainly am open to expressing my reasons/rational.

I will tackle each of these issues in future posts in an attempt to represent all sides. The position I take on these issues will always be based on what will benefit the greatest number of stakeholders (from the information I have available to me).

I support Open Government! So, get to know me – help me make the change Winfield needs. Collective Insight is Needed! I’m willing to help…Take me up on it.