Village Board

Vicki Scaman was re-elected to a second term as Village President in April 2025 after serving in the capacity since 2021. Before beginning her first term in 2021, she was the elected Village Clerk for four years from 2017-21.

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 second term as Village President will expire in April 2029.

To contact President Scaman, call 708.358.5797 or email presidentscaman@oak-park.us.

Derek Eder was appointed to the Village Board in June 2025 to complete the term of former Trustee Susan Buchanan. 

Eder is a developer, civic technology leader and climate advocate who volunteers with several community organizations. Prior to his appointment to the Board, he had been a member of the Village’s Building Codes Advisory Commission since 2024. He is also a member of the Oak Park Climate Action network and serves on the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition Renewables Committee.

The Village’s Environment & Energy Commission selected Eder as a winner of a 2023 Green Award for his work documenting his journey of fully electrifying his home so others could learn from his experience. His blog thoroughly documented the costs, rebates and incentives while explaining the complexities of financing such upgrades to improve energy efficiency. He also worked with the Village’s Office of Communications and Engagement to produce a video titled “How to Fully Electrify Your Home.”

Eder is Founder and Partner at DataMade, a data and web consultancy for civil society working toward democracy, justice and equity. He is also Co-Founder and President Emeritus of Chi Hack Night, a free, weekly event in Chicago to build, share and learn about civic technology. 

Eder graduated from Washington University in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering.

His term expires in April 2027. To contact Trustee Eder, call 708.358.5791 or email TrusteeEder@oak-park.us.

Chibuike Enyia was re-elected Village Trustee in April 2025. His first four-year term began in 2021.

The son of Nigerian immigrants who moved from Chicago 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 and mentor.

Chibuike is a graduate of Oak Park River Forest High School, he matriculated to Triton College for one year before going on to earn 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 is also a former small-business owner, starting his own company called Gameday Videos.

A husband and father, Chibuike believes in contributing to the community. He spends time mentoring youth as a volunteer with Young Life, PADS, the Boy Scouts, Irving Elementary School and several other Oak Park organizations. Chibuike currently also serves as a Board member for The Imagine Foundation. He is a former board member at George Washington University and Richmond University.

His term expires in April 2029.

To contact Trustee Enyia, call 708.358.5796 or email trusteeenyia@oak-park.us.

Jenna Leving Jacobson (she/her) was elected to the Village Board in April 2025. She is a Spanish instructor at Dominican University and medical interpreter at CommunityHealth, one of the largest free health clinics in the country.

Since 2017, Jenna has led the Oak Park-Austin Area Moms Demand Action group, working on legislative advocacy, public education, and support for survivors of gun violence. Her local organizing led to the Village passing the Secure Firearm Storage Ordinance in 2023 and Secure Firearm Notification policies in both D97 and D200. Jenna’s commitments to gun violence prevention and sustainability intersect in the Mercy Garden for Peace and Healing, a community garden project that she developed in partnership with the Austin-based social services organization Mothers OnA Mission28 and NeighborSpace, Chicago’s non-profit urban land trust. 

Jenna has an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and a PhD from the University of Chicago. She lives with her husband and two children in northeast Oak Park.

Her term expires in April 2029. To contact Trustee Leving Jacobson, call 708.358.5793 and email TrusteeLevingJacobson@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-law grew 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.

James J. (Jim) Taglia was first appointed to the Village Board in March 2017 and was subsequently elected to a full four-year term in April 2019. Jim was then elected Trustee once again in April 2025.

Prior to joining the Village Board, Jim was an Oak Park Township Trustee for six years, where he served on the Intergovernmental and Senior Services committees, as well as the Community Mental Health Board.

Jim has a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He also has a masters in business administration and is a certified public accountant.

A lifelong resident of Oak Park, he attended St. Giles elementary school and is a graduate of Oak Park and River Forest High School.

His term expires in April 2029.  To contact Trustee Taglia, call 708.358.5795 or email TrusteeTaglia@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 was 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 M. Waters was re-elected Village Clerk of Oak Park, Illinois in April 2025, serving her second term through April 2029.

A proactive, performance-driven public administration professional with over 20 years of experience in government operations, Christina is recognized for she is recognized for her leadership in developing programs that strengthen civic education, expand community participation and foster inclusive engagement across diverse neighborhoods. She has deep roots in Oak Park, where she has lived for more than 40 years and served on the Parks Foundation Board, Kinfolk Colab Board, Park District Citizens Committee and multiple parent-advisory boards.

Since joining the Village in 2017, Christina has contributed through a range of significant roles within the Village by advancing from administrative in Development Customer Services and human resources positions to Deputy Clerk before her election as Village Clerk in 2021. She has consistently created initiatives with Village-wide impact, including the inaugural “Keep Oak Park Beautiful” day, Civics Engagement Festival held at Village Hall and the youth civic education program, Junior Deputy Clerks. She is passionate about expanding inclusion, strengthening partnerships and ensuring all voices are part of shaping community solutions.

She is deeply committed to nurturing authentic, lasting relationships between Oak Park and the Austin community of Chicago, working alongside partners such as the Black Maternal Health Coalition, A House in Austin, BUILD Chicago, and through Restorative Justice Circle training and programming—efforts that honor the strengths of both communities while amplifying the power of bridge-building across all people.

To contact Clerk Waters, call 708.358.5670 or email clerkwaters@oak-park.us.

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

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*
James J. Taglia
Robert Tucker

* - Resigned February 2017; replaced by James J. Taglia who was appointed by Village Board March 2017

Village Clerk: Teresa Powell, 2009-2017

2017-2019

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

2019-2021

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

Village Clerk: Vicki Scaman, 2017-2021

2021-2023

Vicki Scaman, President
Susan Buchanan
Chibuike Enyia
Ravi Parakkat
Lucia Robinson
James J. 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

Current

Vicki Scaman, President
Susan Buchanan*
Derek Eder
Chibuike Enyia
Jenna Leving Jacobson
Brian D. Straw
James J. Taglia
Cory J. Wesley

* - Resigned May 2025; replaced by Derek Eder who was appointed by Village Board June 2025

Village Clerk: Christina M. Waters, 2021-Present

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