Forest View Trustee David Liska has announced he will be running for mayor in the April 2025 election.
Liska is currently in his fourth year as a current trustee. He had previously held a seat on the board in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
When his original term ended, Liska said he chose not to run again for a third term because his full-time job moved him into a management position and it took more of his time.
Liska is no stranger to residents of Forest View or the surrounding area.
He grew up in neighboring Stickney, went to local elementary schools where he graduated in 1970, then went on to graduate from Morton West High School in 1974.
“After getting married, we lived in Berwyn. We moved to Forest View in 1983. We only planned to stay a few years, and here we are. We raised a boy and a girl here. We love the community. Friends from school were in Forest View so it always felt like home. It’s where I grew up.”
His connection to Forest View is a driving force behind his decision to run for mayor.
Liska coached Little League for decades in Stickney-Forest View. He also coached ball in Lyons, Brookfield and Darien.
“I enjoyed it,” said Liska.
When asked why he decided to run for mayor, he said he’s been thinking about it for a while.
“I started thinking a couple of years into this term … what are we going to do if Nancy (incumbent Forest View Mayor Nancy Miller) doesn’t run. I don’t think I was ready years ago, but after my three years as trustee and seeing what we’ve done, I want to keep things moving in this direction.”
Liska feels his experience as a trustee has prepared him for this new role.
“If you’re working a full-time job, it’s hard to have a lot of involvement. Being retired, I’m home all day and I now have the time. If I’m elected mayor, I plan on having office hours one day a week, plan on being active in the West Central Municipal Conference, and I’ll play it by ear and see where I need to be and what I need to do. I’d like to see where I can help out with the administrative office, departments, etc. I’m familiar now, but I’ll be there if they need my assistance, and we’ll go from there.”
“I love getting people together. Nancy (Miller) got our commercial taxpayers together and we had a great time getting to know people. Our business members met others and had good conversation. Nancy started that, and I thought it was a good idea. I would like to see that continue.”
Liska has been all over the map when it comes to schooling.
After graduating high school, Liska went to drafting school at the United Technical Institute in Milwaukee, then came home with his sights set on Morton College, transferring to U of I becoming an architect.
In 1975, he put in for a job as a draftsman, then saw that the carpenters’ union was accepting applications for apprenticeship.
“I went to Washburn Trade School for three years. I was a third-year apprentice in ‘79. I was laid off, then put an application in at ComEd after my mom suggested it. 37 years later, I retired from there.”
Liska worked many departments with ComEd in his career there, and eventually ended up with an Associate Degree in Science and Engineering.
“Toward the end of my work at ComEd, I called it the ‘university’. I learned so much being an engineer. I retired in 2016 and wasn’t out the door before they were asking me to come back. I worked part time for a year to year and a half then stopped. I enjoyed work. Others have called me, but I like it on my deck.”
As far as some of his biggest accomplishments while on the Forest View Board of Trustees, Liska says he has a few.
During his first term in the ‘80s, Liska helped the Forest View Park District save money by suggesting they transition to metered water.
During his current term, Liska said the combined board has moved projects forward and a lot of repair work has taken place.
“Dropka (Mike Dropka, former village administrator) came in and brought in Tim Kutt, a public works guy from North Riverside. He looked over a lot of things that we needed fixed. We had water leaks. We were losing a lot and paying for it. That was fixed. Sewers were leaking and needed to be fixed. Frank Filec was hired as public works director. He and Tim surveyed the streets, graded, and scheduled repairs. We have two more to fix. Next year, 46th gets done. While the previous administration took money out of our emergency fund, Dropka brought in grant money. He increased revenue without raising taxes. Our gas tax was raised a little, gaming machines are bringing in revenue, and we had a lot of grant money coming in and more is in the works. The sewer project on Wenonah should have been done during the last administration, and that’s almost completed now. Our centennial year events are going well, getting our community together to celebrate our town. Our police and fire departments are getting more involved in the community. We have more to do, but are moving in the right direction.”
Liska talked of his fond memories as a youngster in Forest View.
“We didn’t have cell phones then. We would play ball and mom would call the fire department and tell whoever answered to tell Liska to come home for dinner. They would then yell across the park. That’s how it was back then. It was a fun time. I have lifelong friends that I still keep in touch with. Communities are changing now, but our picnic brought residents together. It was one of the best we’ve ever had, and we will play on that one next year.”
“I like to be involved in our village and park district programs. Getting the community and our seniors involved will always be important to me.”