Flossmoor Trustee Joni Bradley-Scott announced early in July that she plans to run for mayor in the April 5, 2025, election. On Tuesday, July 30, she held a combination birthday party and campaign launch event.
About 90 friends, family members and supporters gathered in Opulence Gallery in Flossmoor Commons for the occasion.
Bradley-Scott provided some context for her run from her family history. She said her father was killed in a vehicular accident when she was 2 years old. As a result, members of her extended family helped raise her, making her appreciate the importance of community.
“I can’t imagine what my life would have been like if I didn’t have that type of support, if I didn’t have community, if I didn’t have that village,” she said.
She said her gratitude for the sacrifices her family made for her fuels her desire to serve.
“For me, it’s only natural to see something that needs to be done and do something about it,” she said. “It has been an honor and privilege to serve the community on the village Board of Trustees for the past seven years, but it has not been full of rainbows and unicorns.”
She criticized the current village administration for what she considers a lack of transparency, disregard for dissenting perspectives, insensitivity to community concerns and “deficiency in monitoring the accountability systems.”
She cited two recent controversies as examples of her concerns and as factors in her decision to run for mayor.
One example was the decision to develop a storm water detention basin, currently under construction, adjacent to Heather Hill School.
While the project has support among people concerned about flooding, a number of residents from the neighborhood have spoken out against the project at board meetings for several months, saying they worry about the safety of school and neighborhood children and believe other flood reduction options should have been pursued.
Bradley-Scott said she advocated for including residents and other stakeholders in conversations about the project for two years but was rebuffed. Village efforts to better inform residents were “too little, too late,” she said.
She also questioned the administration’s performance in dismissing former police chief Jerel Jones, who was present at the event. She criticized the administration for skipping over internal candidates for the job in favor of an external hire who will serve as a civilian manager for several months until his California law enforcement credentials are recognized by Illinois.
“I believe in leadership that prioritizes transparency, fairness, and inclusivity,” she said.
In addition to testimonials from family members and Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority sisters, two local elected officials spoke in support of Bradley-Scott’s candidacy, Flossmoor Trustee Rosalind Mustafa and Homewood-Flossmoor High School District 233 board member Pam Jackson. Both have been vocal in questioning the current administration’s performance.
Bradley-Scott was elected village clerk in 2017 and was appointed to the board in July 2019 by former Mayor Paul Braun to fill the seat left open by Phil Minga’s resignation. She was elected to a full term as trustee in 2021.
She has a Bachelor of Science degree with dual majors in psychology and journalism and mass communication from the University of Iowa. She has a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Lewis University, according to her campaign website.
She has a real estate broker’s license and spent 16 years in enrollment management at higher education institutions such as the University of Chicago and Augustana College.
Bradley-Scott will face incumbent Mayor Michelle Nelson, who was elected in 2021. Nelson said she has not made it official yet but plans to run for re-election.
“We’ve built a lot of momentum in terms of grant funding for infrastructure and safety projects, economic development and civic engagement.” Nelson said. “I’m excited about seeing the results of the foundation we’ve laid over the next four years.”