The meeting room at the Palos Heights Public Library filled quickly on Saturday morning as residents gathered for Ethics in Government, a panel discussion organized by the League of Women Voters. The event brought together four area mayors for a candid conversation on transparency, accountability and the role of ethics in public service.
League of Women Voters representative Elaine Savage said the program was designed as an informal way to connect residents with pressing issues and give them direct access to their elected leaders.
Before the discussion began, Palos Park Mayor Nicole Milovich-Walters shared her enthusiasm about the opportunity to sit alongside her fellow leaders.
“I’m really looking forward to sitting down with my fellow mayors for this conversation,” she said. “It’s not every day we all get to share the same table and have our residents present. I believe our residents will enjoy hearing different perspectives on how we keep government honest and working for the people.”
The panel featured Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge, Palos Heights Mayor Robert Straz, Palos Hills Mayor Jerry Bennett and Milovich-Walters. It was moderated by Nicki Kastellorizios-Lee, a League member and award-winning author of Good Digital Citizen.
Dodge, who has served in government for 32 years, said the event was a valuable way to engage directly with residents.
“This is a great way to come out and meet the community. A lot of people are concerned with ethics and transparency — how things are being decided and why,” he said. Dodge explained that government, to him, is about what he calls the “three C’s”: civility, compromise and compassion. “As mayors, we talk to one another and learn from one another. It’s about doing the greatest good for the greatest number of people.”
This year marked Bennett’s 45th year in government, and he strongly agreed with Dodge on the importance of ethical conduct.
“It’s about leading by example,” Bennett said, adding that growing up with 13 siblings instilled in him an early respect for ethics. “I learned a lot early on about the importance of ethics and respect.”
As mayor, Bennett said his role is about bringing knowledge and understanding to the public. “It’s what we’re here for — to serve the people of our community.”
Straz also emphasized the moral foundation of his decision-making.
“Believing and doing the right thing is all about helping others solve a common problem or need — working together toward a better goal,” Straz said. “We don’t do this for the paycheck.”
He noted that he has always been actively involved in his Palos Heights community and sees public service as an extension of his values.
Milovich-Walters echoed the need for openness.
“Being transparent is very important,” she said, encouraging residents to rely on official municipal websites rather than random social media pages for accurate information. “We are trying to do what’s best for the community, to listen to everyone — so you can see the whole picture.”
She credited her late father, a Korean War veteran, for shaping her sense of duty. “For me, it’s always been about duty, service and community engagement.”
Kastellorizios-Lee, who guided the panel, said the discussion linked modern challenges with enduring principles.
“It’s an absolute honor to be here,” she said. “It gives us the opportunity to reflect on the use of the digital era with classical thinking for modern effort.”
Audience members also participated in a Q&A session, asking about topics such as campaign financing, conflict-of-interest policies and communication between local officials and the public.
League representatives said they plan to host more forums in the coming months to continue their mission of promoting informed civic engagement.
