Village Board

Vicki Scaman was elected Village President in April 2021 after serving as the elected Village Clerk for four years. Prior to running for office in her community, she held a position with the Oak Park Township facilitating a grant through the Illinois Department of Human Services for positive youth development, served as Chair of the Liquor Control Review Board, and co-chair of the Law Review Committee for the Village of Oak Park. As Village President, Vicki excels at building cross-community and intergovernmental partnerships to secure resources and advance Oak Park's racial and environmentally just goals for a more affordable, equitable and sustainable future. Vicki is a founding Mayor and member of the executive leadership team for Cross Community Climate Collaborative (C4).Her term as Village President will expire in April 2025. To contact President Scaman, call 708.358.5797 or emailpresidentscaman@oak-park.us.

Susan Buchanan, M.D., M.P.H, was elected to the Village Board in April 2019 and re-elected in April 2023. Prior to her election, she served as a volunteer on the Village of Oak Park Board of Health. A medical doctor whose career began in family practice, she later became interested in public policy and pivoted to preventive medicine and public health. Susan has spent the last 15 years helping vulnerable workers by improving health and safety on the job, and has become an expert on the health effects of environmental pollutants. Board certified in both family and preventive medicine, she has directed the University of Illinois Chicago’s residency training program in occupational and environmental medicine. Currently, she is an attending physician and clinical associate professor of occupational and environmental health sciences with UIC’s Health and Hospital System and School of Public Health. She also is the director of the Great Lakes Center for Children’s Environmental Health and a recent past member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee. Her term expires in April 2027. To contact Trustee Buchanan, call 708.358.5791 or emailtrusteebuchanan@oak-park.us.

Chibuike Enyia was elected Village Trustee in April 2021. The son of Nigerian immigrants who moved to Oak Park in 1990, he grew up influenced by family, hard work and commitment to community, values he carries forth today as a husband, father, mentor and business owner. Chibuike is a graduate of Oak Park River Forest High School, he completed an associate's degree at Triton College and then earned a Bachelor's Degree in mass communications from Briar Cliff University in Iowa. He returned to the area and began his professional career, taking positions with AT&T, Motorola and Chicago Public Schools, where he trained and led frontline teams and budgets. He recently formed his own company, Gameday Videos. A husband and father, Chiubuike believes in contributing to the community. He spends time mentoring youth as a volunteer with Young Life, PADS, the Boy Scouts and with the diversity committee at Irving Elementary School. His term expires in April 2025. To contact Trustee Enyia, call 708.358.5796 or email trusteeenyia@oak-park.us.

Ravi Parakkat was elected to the Village Board in April 2021. An Engineer and an MBA with business and board experience, Ravi is an advocate for sustainable development toward a digitally enabled future. He currently serves as the Vice President of Digital Transformation with Junior Achievement of Chicago helping the non-profit embrace digital to help young people succeed in life. In a career in consulting spanning more than 20 years, three continents and several industries notably financial service, energy and utilities and manufacturing, Ravi has worked with industries and organizations during transformative years. Ravi has successfully built and managed large globally distributed teams to solve complex problems. He has also set up and managed profitable multi-million dollar projects and businesses. In 2020 in response to the COVID 19 pandemic Ravi started Takeout 25, a platform to bring the community together and help save local restaurants. Takeout 25 is now a not-for-profit with an expanded mission that includes addressing local food insecurity and sustainability while enabling the economy in innovative ways. He currently serves as its Board President. Ravi also serves on the board of Urban Prairie Waldorf school enabling the school's sustainable recovery from the pandemic. Prior to his election to the Village board he served as a commissioner on the Oak Park Energy and Environment Commission. Ravi grew up in India, moved to Oak Park in 2006 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2016. He lives in central Oak Park with his wife Amy and two daughters Rowen and Reva. His term expires in April 2025. To contact Trustee Parakkat, call 708.358.5793 or email trusteeparakkat@oak-park.us.

Lucia Robinson was elected Village Trustee in April 2021. A long-time Oak Park resident, Lucia attended Ascension Elementary School and Oak Park and River Forest High School. She is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and earned a law degree from DePaul University College of Law. While a law student, she served under-privileged communities through the DePaul Legal Clinic and the Women's Clemency Project. As an attorney, she continues her commitment to marginalized individuals through volunteer work at her church and offering legal advice on a pro-bono basis. Lucia is an attorney with more than 20 years' experience in the financial industry, with focus on government regulation and creating and implementing ethics and compliance protocols. Since moving with her family to northeast Oak Park 2007, she has served as a Hatch Elementary School parent volunteer and supported OPRF High School art initiatives, including the Spoken Word Poetry program. Her term expires in April 2025. To contact Trustee Robinson, call 708.358.5795 or email trusteerobinson@oak-park.us.

Brian Straw was elected to the Village Board in April 2023. Brian works as a litigator at a large law firm in Chicago. When not working as an attorney, he has dedicated himself to working on issues impacting Oak Park and northern Illinois. Prior to his election to the Village Board, Brian served on the Oak Park Transportation Commission, advocating for complete streets and the notion of redesigning the Village’s streets to be safer and more accessible for families to be able to bike, walk and access public transportation. He also served on the leadership team of Represent Oak Park in 2021 to support campaigns focused on antiracism during the 2021 local election. Brian previously served on the board of Northern Illinois Justice for Our Neighbors, a non-profit organization providing free high-quality legal services for low-income immigrants across the region. Brian has repeatedly been recognized for combining his passion for social justice with professional aptitude through pro bono work by the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, the Judges of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and his firm. He is a graduate of Hope College and the University of Michigan Law School. Brian lives with his wife and their two children in the home his mother-in-lawgrew up in near Lindberg Park in northwest Oak Park. His term expires in April 2027. To contact Trustee Straw, call 708.358.5794 or email trusteestraw@oak-park.us.

Cory Wesley was elected to the Village Board in April 2023 after being appointed to the Board in October 2022 to complete the term of former Trustee Arti Walker-Peddakotla. Cory is a father, husband and community volunteer who has been an Oak Park resident since 2011.He is the Chairman of the Oak Park Economic Development Corporation’s Board of Directors and Co-President of the Southeast Oak Park Community Organization (SEOPCO). He serves as a board member for Oak Leyden Developmental Services and the Oak Park Pro Bono Network and previously served as a Commissioner on the Village’s Civic Information Systems Commission.Wesley’s community involvement also includes serving as a volunteer mentor with Oak Park and River Forest High School’s Business Incubator and with Austin College & Career Academy High School and Hyde Park Academy High School.Professionally, Wesley has more than 20 years of experience in Information Technology. He is a ServiceNow Solutions Architect and business consultant with his software consulting firm, TekVoyant. He is also a podcast host and a mentor for Black IT professionals looking to join the ServiceNow software ecosystem.His term expires in April 2027. To contact Trustee Wesley, call 708.358.5792 or email TrusteeWesley@oak-park.us.

Christina Waters was elected Village Clerk in April of 2021. Prior to beginning her four-year term on May 3, 2021, Christina was Deputy Village Clerk. Christina has years of local municipality experience, and her dedication to serving her community dates to when she was a teenager. While working at the Park District of Oak Park, she earned a bachelor's degree in Business Management from Robert Morris University, and worked her way up to Facility Scheduling and Parks Coordinator, working with individuals and local organizations, including the Cook County Clerk's Office during elections, to provide space to meet their needs. She also oversaw the team of facility attendants who worked throughout the community at the seven community centers, three outdoor sport courts and the seasonal Rehm Park Trains. Today, she remains involved on the Park District Citizens Committee. Christina joined Village staff in 2017 as the Executive Secretary in Development Customer Services, where she worked with the Parking, Planning, Neighborhood Services, Permits & Business Licensing divisions. She also worked closely with the Aging in Place Commission, Chamber of Commerce and local business districts associations. After a year and a half, she was promoted to the Human Resources Coordinator. In June 2019, she graduated from the Community Works Leadership Lab through the Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation. Born and raised in Oak Park, she attended Longfellow Elementary and Oak Park and River Forest High School. Her term expires in April 2025. To contact Clerk Waters, call 708.358.5672 or email clerkwaters@oak-park.us.

Oak Park Village Boards Since Adoption of Village Manager Form of Government - July 6, 1953:

Village Clerks

V.A. Hewitt - 1953-1957
Clarence W. Schilke - 1957-1973
Virginia Cassin - 1973-1993
Sandra Sokol - 1993-2009
Teresa Powell - 2009-2017
Vicki Scaman - 2017-2021
Christina M. Waters - 2021-Present

1953-1957

J. R. Christianson, President
Homer S. Brown
Whitney Campbell
R. Emmett Hanley
Edwin R. Rittmeyer
Leo A. Shea
Clifford Westcott

Village Clerk: V.A. Hewitt, 1953-1957

1957-1961

J. R. Christianson, President
Whitney Campbell
George Cullicott
R. Emmett Hanley
Albert G. Huegli
Leo A. Shea
Clifford Westcott

1961-1965

Homer S. Brown, President
 J. R. Christianson
George Cullicott
John J. Gearen
Angeline Gebhard
John F. Mannion
Rupert L. Wenzel

1965-1969

John C. Donaker, President
Mark H. Brooks, Jr.
I. M. Fixman
John J. Gearen
Hazel Hanson
George Vician
Rupert L. Wenzel

1969-1973

John J. Gearen, President
Cyril A. Farwell
Harold W. Herman
Theodore J. Krasnow
Clifford T. Osborn
Thomas F. Sturr
J. Ben Thomas

Village Clerk: Clarence W. Schilke, 1957-1973

1973-1977

James J. McClure, President
Eugene J. Callahan
John G. Hoppe, Jr.
Shirley C. Klem
Sandor A. Loevy
Clifford T. Osborn
Robert L. Varnes

1977-1981

James J. McClure, President
Sara G. Bode
Jerome F. Fallon
Shirley C. Klem
William T. Marshall
John F. Philbin
David M. Sokol

1981-1985

Sara G. Bode, President
Philip Kier
Dennis Korchek
Daniel McLean*
Kate McMahon
Frank Muriello
John Philbin
Percy Slaughter

* - Daniel McLean resigned in 1983; replaced by John Philbin who was appointed by Village Board.

1985-1989

Clifford T. Osborn, President
Patricia J. Andrews
Thomas Edwalds
Lois Hall
Susan L. Helfer
William C. Staszak
Nancy Staunton

1989-1991*

John F. Philbin, President ⁴
Marc Blesoff ⁴
Barbara Furlong ⁴
Robert Sherrell ⁴
Nancy Staunton ²
William Staszak ²
Henry Zuba ²

* -Staggered terms were implemented with the 1989 election; number after name indicates length of term to begin the stagger.

1991-1993

John F. Philbin, President
Marc Blesoff
Gary Severe Cole
Barbara Furlong
Alice Jones
Vernette Schultz
Robert Sherrell

Village Clerk: Virginia Cassin, 1973-1993

1993-1995

Lawrence B. Christmas, President
Gary Severe Cole
William Fillmore
Alice Jones*
Frederick Pospisil
Vernette Schultz
John Troelstrup

* - Alice Jones resigned in 1993; replaced by Frederick Pospisil who was appointed by Village Board.

1995-1997

Lawrence B. Christmas, President
Bernard Abraham
William Fillmore
Frederick Pospisil
Susan Rakstang
Alan Raphael
John Troelstrup

1997-1999

Barbara Furlong, President
Bernard M. Abraham
Gus Kostopulos
Rick Kuner
Frederick Pospisil
Alan Raphael
Joanne Trapani

1999-2001

Barbara Furlong, President
Barbara Ebner
Carolyn Hodge-West
Gus Kostopulos
Rick Kuner
Joanne Trapani
William J.J. Turner

2001-2003

Joanne Trapani, President
Diana Carpenter
Barbara Ebner
Galen L. Gockel
Carolyn Hodge-West
Gus Kostopulos
William J.J. Turner

2003-2005

Joanne Trapani, President
Diana Carpenter
Galen L. Gockel
Raymond Johnson
Gus Kostopulos
Robert Milstein
David G. Pope

2005-2007

David G. Pope, President*
Geoff Baker**
Elizabeth Brady
Martha Brock***
Galen L. Gockel
Raymond Johnson
Greg Marsey
Robert Milstein
Ernest Moore

* - Elected Village President April 2005; replaced by Elizabeth Brady to fill unexpired Trustee term who was appointed by Village Board July 2005.
** - Resigned November 2006; replaced by Galen Gockel who was appointed by Village Board November 2006
*** - Resigned January 2007; replaced by Ernest Moore who was appointed by Village Board June 2007

2007-2009

David G. Pope, President
Jon Hale
John Hedges
Raymond Johnson
Colette Lueck
Greg Marsey
Ernest Moore*
Jan Pate

* - Resigned July 2008; replaced by Colette Lueck who was appointed by Village Board July 2008

Village Clerk: Sandra Sokol, 1993-2009

2009-2011

David G. Pope, President
Glenn Brewer
Jon Hale
John Hedges
Raymond Johnson
Colette Lueck
Jan Pate

2011-2013

David G. Pope, President
Glenn Brewer
John Hedges
Raymond Johnson
Colette Lueck
Adam Salzman
Robert Tucker

2013-2015

Anan Abu-Taleb, President
Peter Barber
Glenn Brewer
Raymond Johnson
Colette Lueck
Adam Salzman
Robert Tucker

2015-2017

Anan Abu-Taleb, President
Peter Barber
Glenn Brewer
Andrea Button-Ott
Colette Lueck
Adam Salzman
Robert Tucker

Village Clerk: Teresa Powell, 2009-2017

2017-2019

Anan Abu-Taleb, President
Deno Andrews
Simone Boutet
Andrea Button
Dan Moroney
James Taglia
Robert Tucker

2019-2021

Anan Abu-Taleb, President
Deno Andrews
Simone Boutet
Susan Buchanan
Dan Moroney
James Taglia
Arti Walker-Peddakotla

Village Clerk: Vicki Scaman, 2017-2021

2021-2023

Vicki Scaman, President
Susan Buchanan
Chibuike Enyia
Ravi Parakkat
Lucia Robinson
James Taglia
Arti Walker-Peddakotla*
Cory J. Wesley

* - Resigned August 2022; replaced by Cory Wesley who was appointed by Village Board October 2022

2023-2025

Vicki Scaman, President
Susan Buchanan
Chibuike Enyia
Ravi Parakkat
Lucia Robinson
Brian D. Straw
Cory J. Wesley

Village Clerk: Christina M. Waters, 2021-Present