Note: This is the 10th in a 10-part series introducing candidates who are on the ballot for the first time in village board races in Homewood and Flossmoor. Flossmoor has a surge in trustee candidates this year. In 2023, four candidates ran for three four-year terms. This year, two incumbents are seeking re-election, and five newcomers are competing for the three open seats. More information about candidates will appear in the Chronicle’s March 1 edition.
Carolyn Rodgers has not held elected public office before, but she is no stranger to service, having held positions on a number of professional boards and committees.
She said those experiences have informed her views on communication between the village and residents, and that is the main issue that prompted her to run for the village board.
“I don’t want to live in a community that I don’t know what’s going on,” she said.
She has ideas for how the village can improve, including improving the range and timing of information.
“I would say they need to find out what communication channels people utilize by age, by gender,” she said. “I’ve talked with a lot of seniors in the community, and they really want to be involved, but they’re not on some of these social media sites, and that’s a problem. They have a lot to say.”
She noted that some residents were upset late in 2024 when there were several incidents, including a daylight robbery and vehicle burglaries. that the village didn’t post alerts about as quickly as people expected.
She also believes village officials need to listen more carefully to residents’ concerns.
“I felt like a lot of community members’ voices have not been heard,” she said. “It’s shared governance. It’s about what the people … are looking for to make this village a happy home for all of us. It’s a good place to raise a family,” she said. “I love the community. I like that it’s diverse. I’ve always wanted my children to have a diverse experience.”
