Mayoral Election 2013: Shawn Good

Name: Shawn Good           

Position sought: Mayor of Evergreen Park, Illinois

Age: 44

Family (name, relationship and age): Brian Good, husband 48, Brendan, son 17, Shannon, daughter 14, Kyle, son 9

Education (degree and school): Master of Arts in Political & Justice Studies, Governor’s State University - 2000; Bachelor of Arts, Criminal Justice – GSU 1993; Associates of Science in Information Management, Community College of the Air Force, 1998; Associates of Liberal Arts, Moraine Valley Community College, 1990

Occupation: Federal Law Enforcement Agency Paralegal                       

Political party affiliation, If any: I prefer not to comment as this is a non-partisan election.

Experience

Previous elected offices: Class President of Federal Law Enforcement Training Course (USCS 308), 2002, Glynco, GA           

Applicable experience qualifying you for the position: Combination of Federal Service in the Department of Homeland Security and in the United States Air Force Air National Guard of Illinois for twenty years, along with education and serving the community through volunteer work. Camp Lincoln's Challenge Youth Counselor for ages 8 - 18 in Springfield, Illinois in 1993 working with at risk inner-city children.  Also, I served in the "Great Flood of the Mississippi River" in 1993, a National Guard Recall in Quincy, IL.

Have you ever been convicted of a crime? If so, describe: No

Candidate Questions

What is the primary reason you are running for this office? 

Our Village needs a leader that can provide a higher level of professional services to its residents and business owners.  I am privileged to live here and would be dedicated to serving our community.

How long have you lived in Evergreen Park?

Our family moved to the Northeast section of Evergreen Park when I was four years old.  I have travelled throughout Europe and the U.S. My husband and I lived in Port Arthur, Texas for one year.

I have spent much of the Federal training in Texas, Georgia, Mississippi and Florida.

How should the village balance large-scale development while still supporting locally owned businesses? 

By offering incentives to those businesses who have longevity in Evergreen Park.  Form partnerships and business forums to address these concerns.  Support each other by purchasing goods from one another. 

What can the village do to move the Plaza forward?  

Beverly, Mount Greenwood,  Evergreen Park and Oak Lawn have a large population of youth.  Let’s capitalize and attract youth based activity retail services, such as LegoLand, Extreme Trampolines, ESPN Zone, Classic Cinemas, Southside Cultural Museum.  I’d like to see a three season in-door athletic center that hosts soccer, rugby, lacrosse, a track & football.  Our town needs more activities that encourage self-confidence, such as in-door repelling, rock climbing, a ski-hill, and water park. Build our town from the infrastructure out and get our local unions back to work. (look at Rosemont, Donald Stevens, the late). Again, these areas also have a large amount of attorneys, again capitalize what is already abundantly available, higher education – build the Law School of Notre Dame and open a satellite at 95th & Western. 

Should village elected officials have term limits, or is there an advantage to long serving officials?

Absolutely - 2 term limits, terms 3 & 4 can have liaison/outreach positions. 

What is your favorite thing about living in Evergreen Park? 

Observing three generations of families that live here.  Teaching children whose parents were in my class as a youth.  Seeing all the familiar faces and places.  Evergreen Park, it takes this Village to raise wonderful children.  It’s tightly knit community of people who care about one another.