A Tale of Two (WPD) Slates

Voting HIGHLY Recommended

Friends, you may have noticed that we have a hotly contested race for Winnetka Park District Commissioners: 6 candidates running for 3 open seats. And you will have 3 votes. Our local newspaper, The Record, has stated that for the first time in recent memory you have a mixture of Caucus Slated Candidates running with Independents.

Why it matters

Folks, each commissioner is elected for 4-year terms. And half of the board is up for re-election. And as a result, the Park District race is shaping up as a referendum on the future of Winnetka.

What's at stake are GENERATIONAL LARGE-SCALE PROJECTS for our community:

• Completion of the Waterfront Masterplan, which will finally join Elder and Centennial Beaches and provide a world-class experience, access, and a Southeast Winnetka stormwater solution to our residents
• Exploration of the future of our Hockey and Ice Skating Facilities, potentially with a Multi-Purpose Community Center
• And maintaining financial governance, professional discipline, and intensive studying to deliver on time, and on budget

While it doesn't explicitly say it, the WPD Commissioner job requires MBA-level background, tireless energy, and an executive-level approach to leading, listening, and aligning.

So, this election comes down to which path do Winnetka residents want to choose? Let's dive into both slates — and explore historical data, vision, and background information on each set of candidates. Here we go!

Slate One: VOTE 1-2-4

(1) Elise Gibson (Duda), (2) Scott Corley, and (4) Frederick (Freddy) Johnson.

Gibson (Duda) and Corley are WCC Endorsed; Johnson is an independent. A link to their website can be found here.

About VOTE 1-2-4 Candidates:

• All three are new to the Winnetka political arena and offer a fresh perspective
• All three have MBAs and strong professional backgrounds
• All three are currently raising children in our community

Gibson (Duda) states "consensus building to be her strength." She served as a law partner in the corporate department of DLA Piper negotiating complex business relationships, and views this as a critical skill to enhance the working relationship between the Park District and Winnetka's other taxing bodies (READ: Village Council). Gibson (Duda) is an active Paddle player, and her children have participated in numerous WPD programming over the years.

Corley is a software entrepreneur working in diverse fields ranging from video games to finance. He has served as an Assistant Scoutmaster with Winnetka Troop 20 for seven years, and his interest in the Park District stems from his family's long tradition of volunteer work and Park District involvement.

Johnson is a real estate professional, with an MBA in Finance. He grew up in the Greeley district and graduated from New Trier, and has moved back into the district with his two young daughters. Of all the candidates, Johnson has the most practical WPD experience — his first job was working for Tom Gullen at the Winnetka Ice Arena, and he worked for six years holding positions at the ice arena, beaches, golf course, and parks department. Freddy is active in hockey, both playing and coaching, and his young daughters are now active in skating classes.

Slate Two: Colleen Root, Mary Garrison, Steve Juliusson

Root is WCC Endorsed. Garrison and Juliusson are running as independents. Their website can be found here.

Root is the only candidate seeking re-election. She is a short-term resident of Winnetka, moving here only a few years ago. Her first term has been marred by political infighting, formed by a hardened "Not in my Back Yard" perspective, which has stagnated her own board's vision. She was censured by her own board in April 2024, citing 21 violations of the Code of Ethics. The WPD censure resolution of Commissioner Root can be found here.

Garrison is a former WPD Commissioner and Chair, from 1991–2007. OTW salutes Mary for her years of service to the community. It should be noted that in the early 2000s while Chair, she proposed a public ballot referendum to purchase 261 Sheridan — the property currently in the middle of the WPD property exchange issue regarding joining Elder and Centennial — and it was defeated by Winnetka residents who did not want to spend taxpayer money to purchase the private property.

Juliusson has never been a board member, yet has been a member of the Winnetka Caucus Committee the last several years. He is a frequent public speaker / critic at Village Council and WPD meetings, offering his "unique, yet contrarian" views for solutions.

Our Opinion

It is the opinion of Our Town Winnetka that your 3 votes for WPD Commissioner are CRITICAL. As stated at the top, GENERATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES for our community are at stake, most notably our crown jewel: The Lakefront.

We believe the future WPD Commissioners need to:

• Represent the majority of our community, 35–55 year olds with active families
• Have strong financial and business backgrounds, to make smart, practical, both short- and long-term decisions
• Approach the opportunity to listen, synthesize various points of view, lead "from behind," and align points of view … so we move forward as one

Winnetka: You HAVE a choice. Which path do you want for yourself and your family? The Choice is Clear: VOTE.

Thank you for your consideration,

Our Town Winnetka GL

---

Our Town Winnetka was co-founded by Ian Larkin and Ed Harney, long-time residents and community leaders. NOTE: Ian Larkin, in his new role as WCC Chair, has resigned from Our Town Winnetka.

We love our community and have seen our neighboring communities thrive and pass us by over the last several years. Our intent is to preserve and protect what makes Winnetka special and create the future together. We have organized with a simple principle: We need to be more inclusive and transparent in our Winnetka Caucus process.