The Responsible Leadership for Niles party candidates held a campaign kickoff event Weds., Dec. 19 to announce their candidacies in the April 9, 2013 municipal election.

According to Niles Village Trustee Krzystof "Chris" Hanusiak, who is running for mayor on the new party's slate, he announced, “I became a trustee committed to the goal of bringing honesty, integrity and openness to village government. It is a big responsibility to undertake an even greater task and I am pleased to be joined by three experienced and dedicated individuals as trustee candidates.

Earlier: Party files to run

"We are not afraid of taking steps to bring village government in line with modern management approaches and complete openness with citizens. We all share the commitment to ending the constant haggling and confused policies which have plagued Niles for so long. We have specific and attainable goals and are glad so many Nilesites join us in striving to achieve these ends.”

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Hanusiak also introduced the slate's trustee candidates to the attendees. They include Trustees Louella Blaine Preston and Jim Hynes, as well as community activist Mary Marusek, a former Niles Park District board president. 

They spoke, according to Hanusiak, about the need to restore confidence in village government by focusing on positive and productive meetings for all boards and commissions in Niles and bringing residents into village government participation.

“We will actively recruit residents to fill spots in our local government and add their aspirations and ideas to the decision-making process," Hanusiak said.

"No one will ever be excluded from participating in discussions of important matters. We have no connections to politicians or special interest groups. We are independent and owe nothing to the usual tired, idea-bankrupt political organizations. This approach will be the ‘new normal’ for Niles!”