Skip to content
Beecher Village Board Candidate: Erik Gardner
Why did you decide to run for trustee? In short, because I love my Town! I was raised here, went to school here, and my family is here. My Wife and I made the decision to raise our son here in Beecher. I truly want what’s best for this town and the people. I’m at a point in my life where I am able to dedicate my time to the community and I hope to do that for the next 4 years!
Have you held public office before? No
What is your background? I graduated from Beecher High School (2001), and I have an associate degree from the University of Northwestern Ohio in Automotive. I’ve worked in excavating, demolition, and also a millwright company. I’m currently employed in the waste industry.
What community involvement, organization, affiliations, or club memberships do you have? I currently volunteer at the Beecher Amvet’s Fish Fry, and I am also a Local 179 Teamster.
What characteristics, qualifications, or experience do you feel you possess to be a trustee? My past work experience transfers over to many areas of the village. Roads, new construction, and maintenance. Since November of last year, I’ve attended almost every Village Board meeting, planning and zoning meetings and workshops, to prepare myself should I be elected as a Trustee.
How can the village board improve? After attending several meetings, I can honestly say the current board has done a great job. I hope with my experience, I can help continue that trend and add to it.
What are important issues you’d like to address and how will you address them? I would like to try to get the community more involved and offer more input to the board. That can be achieved through social media, the newsletter and getting more people to the meetings!
What are some improvements you’d like to see happen in Beecher? Everything I want to see happen is currently planned or underway. IE: Water main replacements, road improvements, the new Beecher police station. I feel it’s very important to keep these projects on target and within budget.
Anything else important you’d like people to know? Get out and vote April 4th! I fully support the Beecher School Referendum and I thank everyone in advance for their support and consideration!
Illinois News
Classifieds
Peotone Men: Attend Iron Sharpens Iron Men’s Conference
Spread the loveChrist Community Church, in Peotone, is organizing a group of local men to attend the Focal Point Ministries Iron Sharpens Iron one-day conference on Saturday, March 16, at First Nazarene Church, 12725 Bell Road, Lemont, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The conference is open to all men, including teens. Group registration, through…
Park Forest House Museum Celebrating Valentine’s Day, 75th Anniversary
Spread the lovePark Forest House Museum members invite you to “Step Back into a 1950s Valentine’s Day,” on display from February 3 – March 9. The museum is open Wednesday and Saturday, from 1 to 3:30 p.m., plus at other times by appointment, at 227 Monee Road – inside St. Mary’s Catholic Church. One room…
Beecher Community Library News
Spread the loveCall the library at 708-946-9090 for programs that require registration. The library’s Penfield Street parking lot entrance will be closed until spring, but the Maxwell Street entrance is open. Turn north on Maxwell from Indiana Avenue to get to the library. Youth Services A new take-and-make craft will be available February 1. Pick…
Rep. Haas Hosts Fourth Valentines for Vets
Spread the loveState Rep. Jackie Haas is launching her fourth annual “Valentines for Veterans” program for local veterans. Cards may be dropped off at Rep. Haas’ district office, 370 E. Court Street in Kankakee, through Monday, February 12. The cards will be delivered to veterans residing at the Manteno Veterans Home in time for Valentine’s…
Fire Inspections Still a Hot Topic In Beecher
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva It didn’t take Beecher Police Officer Dylan Lorek too long to get in the good graces of the village board. Lorek, who was sworn in on April 10, was lauded by Mayor Marcy Meyer at the January 8 village board meeting for an incident on December 7 in which he…
Beecher Superintendent Gaham Believes Numbers Don’t Tell the Whole Story
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Numbers were crunched and chomped, spit out, and analyzed. But the bottom line is that Beecher 200U is pretty much in line with the rest of the state in reading, below in math, but ahead in science, according to the recently released state report cards. At the district’s January 8…
Beecher Police Blotter: December 19 – January 1
Spread the loveDisclaimer: Charges against each defendant are merely accusations, with all defendants presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. December 19, Terry Stinnett, 54, of the 12600 block of Tall Oaks Drive, Cedar Lake, Indiana, was stopped at Dixie Highway and Miller Street for having an obstructed license plate, which the…
Beecher Community Library News
Spread the loveCall the library at 708-946-9090 for programs that require registration. The library’s Penfield Street parking lot entrance will be closed until spring, but the Maxwell Street entrance still is open. Turn north on Maxwell from Indiana Avenue to get to the library. Youth Services A polar bear take-and-make craft is available in January.…
Gotion Holding Job Fairs at KCC’s Riverfront Campus, North Extension Center
Spread the loveGotion, Inc., will hold two local job fairs to recruit workers for the electric vehicle battery manufacturing plant to be located in Manteno and has positions in all employment segments, not just manufacturing positions. The company is looking for a variety of skill sets, said Annie Quach a member of the Gotion Recruiting…
Beecher Community Library News
Spread the loveCall the library at 708-946-9090 for programs that require registration. The library’s Penfield Street parking lot entrance is closed until spring, but the Maxwell Street entrance is still open. Turn north on Maxwell from Indiana Avenue to get to the library. Youth Services A new take-and-make craft is available for January! Pick up…
Christ Community Church Hosting Valentine Event
Spread the loveChrist Community Church will host a “Bee” My Valentine social event for adults on Saturday, February 3, from 6 – 8 p.m., at 103 W. Corning Avenue in Peotone. Guests will enjoy an evening of pizza, cupcakes, bottled water, games, prizes, in addition to entertainment. Comedian and Peotone resident Tracy DeGraaf will emcee,…
Beecher Community Library News
Spread the loveCall the library at 708-946-9090 for programs that require registration. Happy Holidays! The library will be closed Saturday, December 29, and Monday, January 1. The library’s Penfield Street parking lot entrance is closed until spring, but the Maxwell Street entrance is still open. Turn north on Maxwell from Indiana Avenue to get to…
Beecher Police Blotter: December 14 – 16
Spread the loveDisclaimer: Charges against each defendant are merely accusations, with all defendants presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. December 14, Venessa Gradowski, 38, of the 1700 block of Prentiss Drive, Downers Grove, was arrested after officers were called to 1121 Dixie Highway for a retail theft call. She was charged…
Beecher 200-U Bringing the Chickens to Roost
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva The passing of the Beecher 200-U tax levy had a barnyard feel to it with chickens coming to roost. District Superintendent Jack Gaham threw out a lot of facts, figures, and percentages during a Truth In Taxation hearing at the December 11 board meeting. Some residents were confused about the…
Barber Bids Farewell as Beecher Ups the Levy
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva As he attended his 852nd Beecher village board meeting, retiring village manager Robert Barber got emotional. So, he tried a different tactic when he spoke to the board. “I’ll read statistics, because statistics don’t make people cry,” he said. Well, that didn’t work out too well. A few times during…
