Katie Trippi, 62, is making her first run for elective office in Evanston, seeking to become 6th Ward alderman.
Trippi, who owns a condo at 2951 Central St., and her opponent, Tom Suffredin, were interviewed about their views on key issues by Evanston Now’s Jeff Hirsh.
Trippi also offered the following information on her background and what she views as the key issues in the campaign in response to an Evanston Now questionnaire.
Background
I am a third generation Evanstonian who has lived in the 6th Ward for more than 30 years. If I am elected in April, I will be a second generation City Council member, My stepfather, James B Moran, served on the Evanston City Council in the 1970’s. His legacy is carried on through the work of the Moran Center for Youth Advocacy. My family is extremely proud of this Evanston institution and the work they do on behalf of the children and young adults of this community.
I have attended Evanston Public Schools, Lincolnwood, Miller, Nichols, and Chute. I graduated from ETHS and the University of Arizona.
After college, I moved to the East Coast and began a career as a political organizer and media buying strategist for Democratic candidates around the country.
In 1991, I moved back to Evanston and raised my three children, who all attended Evanston Public Schools, Lincolnwood, Haven and they all graduated from ETHS.
In 2004, I began a long career with the McGaw YMCA in Evanston holding the positions of director of youth and family services, Camp Echo alumni and development director I currently serve as a senior director and gift officer in the Advancement Department at the YMCA.
I have served on the board of directors for Youth and Opportunity United, The Woman’s Club of Evanston and the Infant Welfare Society of Evanston. I am a graduate of the Evanston Community Foundation’s Leadership Evanston program in 2000.
I have always had an interest in serving in public office. I have the training and disposition to be a relationship builder and connector of people in this community. I want to put those skills to work for the good of this city.
Key issues
My top priorities for the Evanston City Council include:
• Supporting small businesses, minority owned businesses, and restaurants in Evanston to ensure their survival and economic recovery from the devastating pandemic. In order to support these businesses in their recovery we need to ask each owner what they need from the city to support them. Each one may have a different request, some may be in need of rent relief, others may ask for a restructuring of their loans or business model. Some may be looking for something as simple as a change in the timetable for ripping up the road or sidewalk infront of their business. The point is, we don’t know what they need until we ask them.
• Securing and sustaining affordable housing and affordable living in Evanston so that the character of our community continues to include residents of all backgrounds and income levels. I am in support of our inclusionary Housing Ordinance and I would like to see developers pay into an affordable housing fund so that various types of affordable housing stock can be built throughout Evanston and thus offer our low income residents a choice of housing types and locations.
• Ensuring that the youth of Evanston have access to the resources we have available to support their success as they grow into adults give back to this community. Access and equity are the key to supporting all of our Evanston youth. The city can open the gates that have kept so many kids from experiencing all that our community has to offer. Partnerships and collaboration with the numerous not for profit youth serving organizations in town is the place to start. Once again it will take asking the question of both the youth and the organizations how best the city can support their mutual success.
Website and social media
Campaign website, Facebook profile, Facebook campaign page, Instagram, Linkedin, Twitter.