The Village of Oak Park | 123 Madison St.  Oak Park, IL 60302 | village@oak-park.us

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Disability rights advocate, commission chair the choice for new Trustee

March 10, 2014 – A  local attorney who has chaired the Village’s volunteer Disability Access Commission for the past three years has been selected by Village President Anan Abu-Taleb to fill the remainder of the term of Village Trustee Ray Johnson, who recently resigned to pursue a new professional opportunity on the east coast.

Andrea Ott

Andrea Ott, 32, was introduced Monday by Abu-Taleb as his choice for Village Trustee during a special event at Oak Park and River Forest High School, the site selected specifically to raise awareness of the value of public service among students. (Watch the announcement on the Village's YouTube channel.)

Upon confirmation by the Village Board at its March 17 meeting, Ott is believed to be the youngest person ever to become a Village Trustee.

"I am very excited about choosing Andrea to fill this important role in our community,” Abu-Taleb said. “She has demonstrated an unswerving commitment to the community and to public service as a volunteer on one of our most important citizen commissions. As a Village Trustee, I believe her youthful energy and enthusiasm will build on the momentum of our efforts to enhance how Village government operates.”

Abu-Taleb added that by making the announcement at the high school he hoped to convince younger people to “become engaged in the community and be part of the conversation that helps shape and define the future of the Village.”

Ott, whose private law practice focuses on disability, elder and civil law, has lived in Oak Park since 2007. She also serves as outreach coordinator for The Law Project of the Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, where she has developed skills in community and business development, technology, communications, and marketing.

“I am thrilled by this opportunity to represent all Oak Parkers,” Ott said in response to her selection to serve on the Village Board. “I will bring the important perspective of young Oak Park families, with ideas and values that will support fresh, new development and policies to improve the quality of life for residents, families and businesses.

“The role I have been asked to fill is a big one. Ray Johnson’s long tenure on the Village Board is legendary, so I know he will be a tough act to follow. But with the support of the Village President, members of the Village Board and, of course, the community I am confident in my ability to be an active participant at the table where so much of the work that makes Oak Park special is done.”

Ott, who earned her law degree from Indiana University, began her legal career as public interest attorney, assisting low-income individuals in a variety of legal matters, including subsidized housing law, social security and consumer law. She also has served on the Parenthesis Family Center board of directors, been a choir member and lector at Ascension Catholic Church and participated as a member of the Biznet business networking group. 

She shares her Oak Park home with her husband and two children.