Candidate Profile: Kari Steele

Kari Steele is running for Chicago Metropolitan Water District Commissioner.

Ms. Steele is the first to answer our call for information from candidates for the 2010 election.

here is her information

· Slogan/Tagline :
“BEFORE YOU’RE THRU, PUNCH 92”

· Website:
http://www.electkaristeele.com/

· E-mail address:
friendsofkaristeele@hotmail.com

· "Traditional" contact info :
P.O. Box 198878 Chicago, IL 60619

· Other contact info:
“Friends of Kari Steele” on Face Book, Twitter, LinkedIn, ; Flicker

· Your top 3 issues:

1. To increase educational efforts to residents about water conservation, the role of MWRD and what MWRD has to offer residents of Cook County to assist in improving the quality of their lives.
2. To increase public awareness, and citizen and municipality participation in minimizing flooding.
3. Develop ways to reduce the amount of energy used at the water treatment plants. The district needs to utilize updated methods and greener technologies at all facilities across the county.

· Employment (past & present):
L’Oreal USA, Formulating Chemist, 10/2004 – present;
City of Chicago Department of Water, Water Chemist II, 12/1998 – 10/2004;
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, Temporary Chemist, 9/1998 – 12/1998.

· Community affiliations (past & present; includes church/religious):
The Sierra Club, Society of Cosmetic Chemist, Chatham Avalon Park CommunityCouncil, Trinity United Church of Christ

· Political affiliations:
YoungDemocrats of Cook County (Chairman), Young Democrats of America, The 6th Ward Young Democrats (Chairman), Illinois Women’s Institute of Leadership (IWIL), The 6th Ward New Democrats,

· Endorsements:
Endorsed by Alds. Pat Dowell, Leslie Hairston, Freddrenna Lyle, Sandi Jackson, Michelle Harris, Anthony Beale, Howard Brookins, Helen Shiller, and Joe Moore; Mayors Elizabeth Tisdahl of Evanston and Ronnie Lewis of Dolton. I also have the support of State Sens. Rickey Hendon, Mattie Hunter and Donne Trotter; State Reps. Marlow Colvin and Connie Howard; Bremen Township School Trustees President Joseph Bertrand, Jr., Riverdale Village Library Trustee Maurice Roberts, Jr.; State Committeeman Carol Ronen; Committeemen David Fagus, Tom Sharpe and Tim Bradford. The Teamsters Joint Council #25, the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists and the Sierra Club also endorse Kari Steele.

· General Comments:
I have a Chemistry Pre-Med degree, and more than 11 years of experience working as a Chemist. I have experience working at both the Jardine Water Purification Plant (as a water chemist) and The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (as a water sampler & lab tech). My actual experience working in both departments makes me uniquely qualified to discuss and analyze proposed operational changes and operational efficiencies. Further, my scientific background would be an asset to the board, because laboratory testing plays a major part in monitoring and regulating waste discharge. As the ecological demands upon the agency increase, a scientific background would be of great value in informing and guiding policy decisions of the Board. Currently the board of Commissioners at MWRD has no representation from the south side or south suburbs. I’m a Chemist, an Environmentalist, and a community leader.

“Kari Steele is a chemist and committed environmentalist, and she would bring needed scientific expertise to the MWRD Board of Commissioners,” said Jack Darin, Director of the Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter. “We all win when decisions about our water supply are informed by sound science, and that’s exactly what Kari Steele would do on the MWRD Board.”

· Other candidates:
There are a total of 8 candidates in this race. Note: voters will choose 3 out of the 8 candidates.

Kari K. Steele
Chairman, 6th Ward Young Democrats
Chairman, Young Democrats of Cook County