Elections ’11: Kristen Lash, Candidate for DeKalb 3rd Ward Alderman

Kristen Lash, Candidate for Third Ward Alderman, DeKalb City Council

Background: I grew up in Central Illinois, in the tiny little farm towns west of Springfield. After graduating from Lincoln Land Community College in 2004, my “high school sweetheart” and I came to DeKalb to attend NIU. We fell in love with the community, and when we were married in 2006, we chose to make DeKalb our home.

My husband, Jared, now works two jobs. He works full-time as a secretary in the Math Department at NIU, but most people in the community know him from his part-time job as a bus driver for Huskie Line. He is also working toward his Masters degree in Computer Science.

I graduated NIU in 2007 with a degree in Child Development, and work for Children’s Learning Center. I am currently the Site Director for CLC’s before and after school program at Littlejohn Elementary.

I have been involved in our political process at various levels of government for almost 6 years. The most profound lesson I have learned from that involvement is how important it is that an elected official listen to the people they represent.

Why should people vote for you?
I have already knocked many doors in these last 2 months, and that lesson has been brought home in what I’ve been hearing. The most common question I get is, “Who is our current Alderman?” Many people don’t know what questions to ask because they aren’t informed about what is happening at the many different levels of our government.

I plan to hold monthly meetings for the residents of the Third Ward. They will be town-hall-style meetings with me and elected representatives from the Township, School Board, and County Board. This will allow for three things: 1, It will allow for residents to ask their questions and voice their concerns all in one place, without needing to attend 6+ meetings per month or make 4+ phone calls. 2, It will give local elected officials a good chance to hear the voices of their constituents. 3, It will promote better communication and cooperation among the various levels of our government.

My goal is to represent the people of DeKalb’s Third Ward with honesty and integrity. This is my pledge if I am elected as DeKalb’s next Third Ward Alderman on April 5th.

Please feel free to contact me through my website at www.lashforalderman.com