Constituents got to know their mayors’ position on ethics in government on Saturday, Sept. 13, at the Palos Heights Public Library. The League of Women Voters of the Palos-Orland Area hosted its first fall voter education event, “Ethics in Government in a Digital Age.”
Mayors Jim Dodge of Orland Park, Robert Straz of Palos Heights, Jerry Bennett of Palos Hills, and Nicole Milovich-Walters of Palos Park, joined moderator Nicki Kastellorizios-Lee for a conversation on transparency, accountability, and public trust.
Before beginning, Kastellorizios-Lee led the audience in a moment of silence for students injured in the recent Colorado school shooting, grounding the room in the seriousness of the discussion ahead.
Getting to know their leaders
Each mayor opened with a personal note and a priority for their administration. Bennett reflected on growing up in a family of 13 siblings, where respect was learned early and carried into his 45 years as mayor of Palos Hills.
Dodge pointed to “civility, compromise, and compassion” as the guiding principles of his work in Orland Park, “If you run for office, you have to keep two questions in front of you: Why did you run? And what problems are you solving?”
Milovich-Walters, a longtime commissioner before becoming mayor of Palos Park, stressed her commitment to parks, recreation, and infrastructure, but also to bringing residents back together after what she called a divided election.
“It felt like everyone was divided,” she said, “so we created committees and filled all our boards, that sense of community makes a big difference.”
Straz recounted taking office 25 years ago when Palos Heights was financially unstable. His focus since then has been professionalizing management and putting the city on firm financial footing. “Planning matters,” he said. “We run a surplus every year now, and that lets us reinvest in capital projects.”
Accountability and trust
When the discussion turned to ethics, the mayors emphasized that accountability starts with example. “You lead by example,” Bennett said. “If staff see you operating with respect and ethics, it’s contagious.”
Dodge added that he deliberately refers to residents as “customers” to remind city staff that “we are a service organization.”
The mayors also highlighted practical ways residents can stay informed. Dodge pointed to Orland Park’s detailed online agendas. Straz mentioned Palos Heights’ public broadcasts of meetings on Channel 4 and YouTube.
Balancing rights and the common good
The conversation also dived into how to balance individual rights with community needs.
Straz explained it through the lens of everyday ordinances: “My idea of government should be invisible,” Staz said. “We’re not here to be heavy-handed with tickets, the law is there to help make things better, not to punish.”
Milovich-Walters gave the example of noise ordinances, where one resident’s right to host a party can conflict with a neighbor’s right to quiet. Dodge described Orland Park’s recent debate over flag displays, showing how issues of expression and property rights quickly become local government matters.
Technology’s double edge
Technology was a recurring theme, both as a tool for transparency and a challenge in the digital era, “The best way to respond is you,” Bennett said, urging residents to call village hall directly when they have questions rather than relying on Facebook rumors.
Dodge said that the sheer volume of digital information doesn’t automatically build trust. “The information is there,” he stated. “You might not agree with a decision, but you should be able to see why it was made.”
The mayors agreed that digital tools should be used carefully to expand access, not replace human connection. “The best way is still to pick up the phone,” Bennett said.
For residents, the takeaways were clear: check your village’s official channels for information, expect responsiveness when problems arise, and to call your mayor’s office directly with further inquiries.