Margaret Heller for Alderman
We have to be ahead of the game
I strongly believe that it is in my best interest to do all I can to improve my neighborhood and the community in which I live. I am investing in both my home and my community to enjoy and to improve the quality of life here; and I want to do all that I can to make that a sound investment. My future, our future, is linked to this community. For those reasons, I have chosen to run for alderman in the 3rd District following the retirement of Don Holland.
Reaching the end of my career as a self-employed owner of a healthcare clinic, I decided to return to my hometown of Kenosha to retire and pursue other interests.
Although I did not live in Kenosha my entire life, my connection runs deep. I am able to look out my windows on all sides and see houses built by my great, great grandfather who was an Irish immigrant and the master bricklayer who owned Tully Masonry in the 1800s. My grandfather on my mother's side, James E. Tully, was a County Judge; and my grandfather on my father's side, Lew Heller, headed the Water Department in Kenosha. My parents, Bob and Marg (Tully) Heller, lived all their lives in Kenosha raising seven children within blocks of my current home. My father, who practiced dentistry here for 50 years, headed many civic and church organizations. I come from a tradition of professionalism and community service. Due to my travels and life experience I believe that I bring a fresh point of view to the issues that face Kenoshan's in 2010.
Since retiring I have devoted my energy toward things I did not have time to do in my early years.
- I have restored an old home researching and using green technologies whenever possible;
- I have been writing for the Kenosha News about the positive changes I see in Kenosha after a 40 year absence;
- I have worked with neighbors to start a grassroots environmental organization - Green Kenosha-Lakeshore that meets monthly at my house;
- I have organized the 1st and 2nd Annual Allendale Yard Sale and electronic recycling event in which over 50 homes took part each year and 12.25 tons of used electronics were collected to be recycled last year;
- I have been researching the city's recycling program - how it evolved and its future;
- I have been meeting with School Superintendent Dr. Joe Mangi and members of his KUSD Administration about organizing students to live a green student life and not just study it.
There are certain skills that I gained as a chiropractor and a business owner that make me uniquely qualified for the job of Alderman. As a primary care provider I had to have great listening skills that lead to effective problem solving and quick decision making. This experience has helped me as a home "re-builder" as I have had to understand the systems that make a house a home and how to improve them as well as prevent future costly problems. I think that these qualities are what is needed to be an effective council member: to be able to listen to my constituents, as well as the experienced administrators of city services, to find long term solutions that save money and make our city more efficient. I was also active as a member of The California Chiropractic Association throughout my career and served in many capacities including: the Board of Directors for 6 years, Chairperson of Marketing and Communications, and Journal Editor. I received numerous awards including Chiropractor of the Century for my District, and statewide for Distinguished Service.
We cannot let the recession set Kenosha back. We are a community built on manufacturing and we need leadership that will bring us in line with the jobs of the future in technology and clean energy. We can't sit back and hope that someone else will bring that about. We have to be working with our schools to create the kind of manufacturing that revitalizes our community.
