Byron Walker and Erika Schafer took their seats on the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, May 20.
They replaced Linda Ojode of Flossmoor, who served a six-year term, and Steve Johnson of Homewood, who was on the board for 18 years, serving three terms.
Only Walker ran for office in the April 1 election. The Flossmoor resident is a general contractor who said he was willing to share his expertise with the board as he hopes to address aging infrastructure and facility maintenance.
The park board announced the second opening on the board and got 20 letters of interest from residents. Through interviews and submitted personal profiles, the board selected Schafer to fill the open seat.
Schafer has lived in Flossmoor for 13 years with her husband and son. She works in human resources at the University of Chicago. She has used park facilities and said her interest in board decisions was piqued when she got an emailed survey this fall asking for input on the parks and facilities. Questions about maintaining Lions Pool really got her attention, she said.
Walker was elected for a full six-year term on the board. Schafer will serve a two-year term, then the seat will be announced as open for election in 2027.
The other commissioners on the five-member board are Brent Bachus, Debbie Dennison and Angie Codere. Bachus was reelected the board’s president, and Codere will serve as vice president.
