Bloomingdale Township Democratic Candidate Biographies
Terrell Barnes - Candidate for Township Supervisor
Terrell is running for Bloomingdale Township Supervisor to create a more forward leaning Township that innovates, cuts waste, and looks out for the taxpayer while being a guardian for the social safety net.
Terrell has lived in Bloomingdale Township since 1988. He has served our community as an elected Library Trustee of the Roselle Public Library District since 2015 and recently served as Library Board Secretary. Working with his fellow library trustees, Terrell reviews and approves the Library’s annual budget of more than $2 million, establishes policies that reflect the needs of our community, oversees the general operation of the library, and promotes and advocates for the library in the community.
In 2016, Terrell and the library board conducted a statewide search and hired the current Executive Director of the Library. He regularly casts key votes on construction projects at the Library that improve the lives of library patrons and our community. As a library Trustee during the pandemic, Terrell was able to shift gears and provide leadership as community infection rates changed. He made the motion to reopen the library in late May after there was a decline in our community COVID-19 positivity rates.
Terrell committed to working tirelessly for the Democratic Party after the outcome of Florida recount of the 2000 election. Since that time, he has served as a precinct committeeman and he’s been involved in grassroots state government lobbying efforts with a focus on support for working families, defunding for-profit colleges, and establishing concussion safety protocols for kids’ sports and adults in the workplace.
Terrell has a deep commitment to peaceful political activism and economic justice for all. On behalf of Little Village Residents in Chicago, Terrell along with other activists recently blew the whistle on HILCO Redevelopment Partners over the environmental fallout of their botched smoked stack implosion. This led to the Illinois Attorney General taking HILCO State Court and allowed Little Village residents to seek relief in court over the environmental impact to their neighborhood. Working with Streetwise and partnering with the private sector, Terrell organized a highly successful hand sanitizer drive to help Chicago’s homeless population survive during the pandemic. Terrell believes in community and opportunity for all, responsibility from all, and a free ride for none. Terrell is the author of ‘In This Town, Not all Lobbyists are Created Equal.’
Education:
Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Masters of Jurisprudence in Corporate Governance Law M.JUR
University of Windsor, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Minor in Philosophy
College of DuPage, Management Supervision Certification, Entrepreneurship Certification
Past and Current Organization Memberships:
Citizens Utility Board, Operation Push, Dean's Diversity Council Loyola School of Law, Southern Poverty Law Center
Terrell is running for Bloomingdale Township Supervisor to create a more forward leaning Township that innovates, cuts waste, and looks out for the taxpayer while being a guardian for the social safety net.
Terrell has lived in Bloomingdale Township since 1988. He has served our community as an elected Library Trustee of the Roselle Public Library District since 2015 and recently served as Library Board Secretary. Working with his fellow library trustees, Terrell reviews and approves the Library’s annual budget of more than $2 million, establishes policies that reflect the needs of our community, oversees the general operation of the library, and promotes and advocates for the library in the community.
In 2016, Terrell and the library board conducted a statewide search and hired the current Executive Director of the Library. He regularly casts key votes on construction projects at the Library that improve the lives of library patrons and our community. As a library Trustee during the pandemic, Terrell was able to shift gears and provide leadership as community infection rates changed. He made the motion to reopen the library in late May after there was a decline in our community COVID-19 positivity rates.
Terrell committed to working tirelessly for the Democratic Party after the outcome of Florida recount of the 2000 election. Since that time, he has served as a precinct committeeman and he’s been involved in grassroots state government lobbying efforts with a focus on support for working families, defunding for-profit colleges, and establishing concussion safety protocols for kids’ sports and adults in the workplace.
Terrell has a deep commitment to peaceful political activism and economic justice for all. On behalf of Little Village Residents in Chicago, Terrell along with other activists recently blew the whistle on HILCO Redevelopment Partners over the environmental fallout of their botched smoked stack implosion. This led to the Illinois Attorney General taking HILCO State Court and allowed Little Village residents to seek relief in court over the environmental impact to their neighborhood. Working with Streetwise and partnering with the private sector, Terrell organized a highly successful hand sanitizer drive to help Chicago’s homeless population survive during the pandemic. Terrell believes in community and opportunity for all, responsibility from all, and a free ride for none. Terrell is the author of ‘In This Town, Not all Lobbyists are Created Equal.’
Education:
Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Masters of Jurisprudence in Corporate Governance Law M.JUR
University of Windsor, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Minor in Philosophy
College of DuPage, Management Supervision Certification, Entrepreneurship Certification
Past and Current Organization Memberships:
Citizens Utility Board, Operation Push, Dean's Diversity Council Loyola School of Law, Southern Poverty Law Center
Wichitthree “Aisha” Thongsen - Candidate for Township Clerk
Aisha has lived in Bloomingdale Township (Glendale Heights) since 2012.
Aisha is running for Bloomingdale Township Clerk because she wants to improve communications with the residents and business owners of the township. As Clerk, Aisha will be the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Open Meetings Act (OMA) Officer for the Township and Highway Road District. She will also be the recorder and registrar for the Township, the Board of Trustees, and the Highway Department. As Clerk, Aisha will be keenly aware of the business of the township and she will share some of that knowledge as content for a new monthly e-newsletter for the community.
Aisha came to America from Thailand in 2005 to work for an American family for a year as an Au Pair, a student cultural exchange program that provides childcare in exchange for the opportunity to experience life in America. Aisha had a strong interest in the restaurant industry so she attended the International Hotel and Airlines Business School and began working in suburban restaurants first as a cashier, server, and bartender and later as the manager. After 10 years of working and saving, Aisha realized the American dream of becoming a business owner. Aisha became the owner of Sushi Diva Japanese Restaurant in Saint Charles in 2018. In 2020, Aisha became a Field supervisor for the U.S. Census Bureau. In this role, she did community outreach to make sure every person was counted. U.S. Census data impacts the design and implementation of policies and laws in governmental sectors including education, housing, transportation, health, and environmental protection.
Her years in the restaurant industry and her work at the U.S. Census have prepared Aisha for her role as the Township Clerk. Specifically she has very strong administrative skills, financial literacy, and the ability to create and update procedures to keep the Clerk’s office running smoothly. Additionally, Aisha has a genuine belief in giving back to the community and listening to constituents to understand what they care about most.
Aisha speaks English, Thai, and Laos.
Education:
High School in Thailand
International Hotel and Airlines Business School
Ramkhamhaeng University, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science
Elgin Community College, ESL Classes
BIR Training Center, ESL Classes
Aisha has lived in Bloomingdale Township (Glendale Heights) since 2012.
Aisha is running for Bloomingdale Township Clerk because she wants to improve communications with the residents and business owners of the township. As Clerk, Aisha will be the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Open Meetings Act (OMA) Officer for the Township and Highway Road District. She will also be the recorder and registrar for the Township, the Board of Trustees, and the Highway Department. As Clerk, Aisha will be keenly aware of the business of the township and she will share some of that knowledge as content for a new monthly e-newsletter for the community.
Aisha came to America from Thailand in 2005 to work for an American family for a year as an Au Pair, a student cultural exchange program that provides childcare in exchange for the opportunity to experience life in America. Aisha had a strong interest in the restaurant industry so she attended the International Hotel and Airlines Business School and began working in suburban restaurants first as a cashier, server, and bartender and later as the manager. After 10 years of working and saving, Aisha realized the American dream of becoming a business owner. Aisha became the owner of Sushi Diva Japanese Restaurant in Saint Charles in 2018. In 2020, Aisha became a Field supervisor for the U.S. Census Bureau. In this role, she did community outreach to make sure every person was counted. U.S. Census data impacts the design and implementation of policies and laws in governmental sectors including education, housing, transportation, health, and environmental protection.
Her years in the restaurant industry and her work at the U.S. Census have prepared Aisha for her role as the Township Clerk. Specifically she has very strong administrative skills, financial literacy, and the ability to create and update procedures to keep the Clerk’s office running smoothly. Additionally, Aisha has a genuine belief in giving back to the community and listening to constituents to understand what they care about most.
Aisha speaks English, Thai, and Laos.
Education:
High School in Thailand
International Hotel and Airlines Business School
Ramkhamhaeng University, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science
Elgin Community College, ESL Classes
BIR Training Center, ESL Classes
Mohammed Mortoja - Candidate for Bloomingdale Township Trustee
Mohammed Mortoja is passionate about public service, communication, leadership, and investing in Bloomingdale Township. He believes that community leaders must strike a balance between keeping tax rates low for residents and investing in community improvements that make Bloomingdale Township a place that our businesses and families are excited to call home.
Mohammed feels that being a part of the local government is a service to the community and he is looking forward to serving the community that his children have been raised in. Mohammed is married with three children and has lived in Bloomingdale Township since 2010. Currently Mohammed serves as a precinct committee of the Bloomingdale Township Democrats. He has 20+ years’ IT experience and has worked in many industries including: airlines, banking, manufacturing, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, automotive, educational, publishing, agriculture, energy, and non-profit.
Mohammed supports maintaining the current tax or even reducing the rate. Mohammed believes we need to work to be a more business-friendly board that supports businesses that are both just starting out and that have been part of the community for a length of time. Along with community members, businesses are our partners.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a time of need, and to help he has volunteered in the community, especially reaching out to needy families who need food on the table. Mohammed will utilize the food pantry and deliver food-boxes containing monthly necessities to needy people’s doorstep.
Mohammed will build collaborative efforts around the following issues:
Education:
Rajsahi University, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science
Mohammed Mortoja is passionate about public service, communication, leadership, and investing in Bloomingdale Township. He believes that community leaders must strike a balance between keeping tax rates low for residents and investing in community improvements that make Bloomingdale Township a place that our businesses and families are excited to call home.
Mohammed feels that being a part of the local government is a service to the community and he is looking forward to serving the community that his children have been raised in. Mohammed is married with three children and has lived in Bloomingdale Township since 2010. Currently Mohammed serves as a precinct committee of the Bloomingdale Township Democrats. He has 20+ years’ IT experience and has worked in many industries including: airlines, banking, manufacturing, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, automotive, educational, publishing, agriculture, energy, and non-profit.
Mohammed supports maintaining the current tax or even reducing the rate. Mohammed believes we need to work to be a more business-friendly board that supports businesses that are both just starting out and that have been part of the community for a length of time. Along with community members, businesses are our partners.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a time of need, and to help he has volunteered in the community, especially reaching out to needy families who need food on the table. Mohammed will utilize the food pantry and deliver food-boxes containing monthly necessities to needy people’s doorstep.
Mohammed will build collaborative efforts around the following issues:
- Mohammed will bring his experience in small business and community outreach to advocate for the most cost-effective approach to deliver township services. He will prioritize digitizing information to make services available to all the residents of Bloomingdale Township.
- Bring integrity, transparency and accountability to Bloomingdale Township government.
- Ready to fight for homeowners and businesses. He supports maintaining the current tax or even reducing the rate.
- No child, family, or individual should stay Hungry! Due to the COVID19, many individuals, including our elderly, widowed, refugees, and low-income families are struggling to pay their monthly bills due to either being self-quarantined or having their jobs adversely affected by the pandemic. Mohammed will utilize Township's Food Pantry to address the current challenges that our disadvantaged community members may be facing especially with bringing food to the table. He will be putting effort to deliver a food-box containing monthly necessities to your doorstep.
Education:
Rajsahi University, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science
Michael L. “Pop” Murray - Candidate for Bloomingdale Township Trustee
Mike is running for Bloomingdale Township trustee with the hope of developing opportunities for citizens to work together. Township Government by statute can support the community in a variety of areas. Mike believes Township government can do even more to provide basic and vital human services to members of our community through proactive collaboration with our local governmental entities and non-governmental organizations including churches, mosques, temples and service clubs. Mike is most interested in developing community-wide collaborations in mental health, transportation, food security, and daycare.
Mike and his wife, Barbara have lived in Bloomingdale Township since 1985. Currently, Mike serves as a precinct committee person and Treasurer of the Bloomingdale Township Democrats. In 2016, Mike worked tirelessly as the leader of a grassroots referendum committee for the creation of a 708 Community Mental Health Board* for Bloomingdale Township because he knew there were many unmet needs for people with mental illness, addiction, and developmental disabilities. Mike also knew not meeting those needs in a timely manner greatly increases the cost of treatment for the individual and can have large repercussions for the community as a whole. In 2017 when our community approved the referendum to create the Board, Mike established the Bloomingdale Township Mental Health Auxiliary Facebook page (not affiliated with the Township government) to publicly support and promote the work of the Board and to communicate about the needs in our community. Mike also is the creator and moderator of the Bloomingdale Township Community Facebook page (not affiliated with the Township government).
Mike is a longtime active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Roselle where he has served as an Elder and on the Caring and Service Ministry. Currently, he is active in the League of Women Voters Roselle-Bloomingdale and the DuPage County Prevention and Leadership Team.
In the past, Mike served on the Roselle District 12 School Board and the YMCA Policy Committee. He also volunteered with Exodus World Service as a citizenship tutor and as a member of their New Neighbor program.
With a deep belief in the power of community, Mike hopes to help create a Township where everyone feels welcome, heard, and empowered.
Education:
Oak Park River Forest High School
Baldwin Park High School (CA)
Mount San Antonio Community College (Walnut, CA)
California State College at Los Angeles
*The mental health authority operates under the provisions of H.B. 708, Illinois Revised Statutes, also known as the Community Mental Health Act.
Mike is running for Bloomingdale Township trustee with the hope of developing opportunities for citizens to work together. Township Government by statute can support the community in a variety of areas. Mike believes Township government can do even more to provide basic and vital human services to members of our community through proactive collaboration with our local governmental entities and non-governmental organizations including churches, mosques, temples and service clubs. Mike is most interested in developing community-wide collaborations in mental health, transportation, food security, and daycare.
Mike and his wife, Barbara have lived in Bloomingdale Township since 1985. Currently, Mike serves as a precinct committee person and Treasurer of the Bloomingdale Township Democrats. In 2016, Mike worked tirelessly as the leader of a grassroots referendum committee for the creation of a 708 Community Mental Health Board* for Bloomingdale Township because he knew there were many unmet needs for people with mental illness, addiction, and developmental disabilities. Mike also knew not meeting those needs in a timely manner greatly increases the cost of treatment for the individual and can have large repercussions for the community as a whole. In 2017 when our community approved the referendum to create the Board, Mike established the Bloomingdale Township Mental Health Auxiliary Facebook page (not affiliated with the Township government) to publicly support and promote the work of the Board and to communicate about the needs in our community. Mike also is the creator and moderator of the Bloomingdale Township Community Facebook page (not affiliated with the Township government).
Mike is a longtime active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Roselle where he has served as an Elder and on the Caring and Service Ministry. Currently, he is active in the League of Women Voters Roselle-Bloomingdale and the DuPage County Prevention and Leadership Team.
In the past, Mike served on the Roselle District 12 School Board and the YMCA Policy Committee. He also volunteered with Exodus World Service as a citizenship tutor and as a member of their New Neighbor program.
With a deep belief in the power of community, Mike hopes to help create a Township where everyone feels welcome, heard, and empowered.
Education:
Oak Park River Forest High School
Baldwin Park High School (CA)
Mount San Antonio Community College (Walnut, CA)
California State College at Los Angeles
*The mental health authority operates under the provisions of H.B. 708, Illinois Revised Statutes, also known as the Community Mental Health Act.
Tom Suhrbur - Candidate for Bloomingdale Township Trustee
Tom is running for Bloomingdale Township Trustee because he wants to make some significant reforms to benefit all constituents. Tom believes through no fault of their own, many of the Bloomingdale Township taxpayers know very little about how our township government operates. He wants to help change that by publishing a quarterly newsletter that would be mailed to all residents and business owners to share key information including:
1.) Lists of all contracts over $500 received by vendors
2.) Names and township email addresses of all elected officials
3.) Description of all township services
4.) A suggestion box for feedback from constituents
5.) Calendar of events including a schedule of meetings
6.) Ad space for local township businesses
7.) A list of all building/property maintenance codes covering township residents and information about the enforcement of code violations that lower property values
Tom is an advocate for fiscal responsibility and transparency. Under the current administration, monthly township public business meetings typically last no more than 20 minutes. Bloomingdale Township trustees currently receive an annual salary of $8,040. As an elected Trustee, Tom will study the work and time required of the elected officials to ensure the salaries and benefits provided are fair to the taxpayer and he’ll propose a salary reduction if justified. Additionally, Tom will donate his entire annual salary for every year of his term to support the Township Food Pantry and other Township services.
Tom will support a measure to require all elected township officials to submit monthly timesheets and expense reports for township business. He will also insist on timely publication of all meeting announcements, agendas, minutes, and budgetary items being considered so the public can attend or comment.
Tom and his wife, Barbara, have lived in Bloomingdale Township (unincorporated Glen Ellyn Countryside) for forty years. Their three children attended District 16 Queen Bee Elementary School District and Glenbard West High School. Tom worked for the Illinois Education Association for 26 years. Prior to that, he taught Social Studies for 17 years--his last teaching job was at Geneva High School in Geneva, Illinois.
Tom has dedicated much of his life to public service. He organized the Glen Hill Elementary PTO and he helped to organize Concerned Parents of Queen Bee School District, which exposed political corruption and misappropriation of school district funds and led to felony indictments and the restoration of program cuts. For the past nine years, Tom has served as the elected Bloomingdale Democratic Party Precinct 21 committeeman. For more than 35 years, Tom has served on the Executive Committee of the Illinois Labor History Society.
Education:
St. Joseph High School
University of Illinois at Chicago, Bachelor of Arts, History
University of Illinois at Chicago, Master of Arts, History
Northern Illinois University, Certificate of Advanced Studies-Labor History
Tom is running for Bloomingdale Township Trustee because he wants to make some significant reforms to benefit all constituents. Tom believes through no fault of their own, many of the Bloomingdale Township taxpayers know very little about how our township government operates. He wants to help change that by publishing a quarterly newsletter that would be mailed to all residents and business owners to share key information including:
1.) Lists of all contracts over $500 received by vendors
2.) Names and township email addresses of all elected officials
3.) Description of all township services
4.) A suggestion box for feedback from constituents
5.) Calendar of events including a schedule of meetings
6.) Ad space for local township businesses
7.) A list of all building/property maintenance codes covering township residents and information about the enforcement of code violations that lower property values
Tom is an advocate for fiscal responsibility and transparency. Under the current administration, monthly township public business meetings typically last no more than 20 minutes. Bloomingdale Township trustees currently receive an annual salary of $8,040. As an elected Trustee, Tom will study the work and time required of the elected officials to ensure the salaries and benefits provided are fair to the taxpayer and he’ll propose a salary reduction if justified. Additionally, Tom will donate his entire annual salary for every year of his term to support the Township Food Pantry and other Township services.
Tom will support a measure to require all elected township officials to submit monthly timesheets and expense reports for township business. He will also insist on timely publication of all meeting announcements, agendas, minutes, and budgetary items being considered so the public can attend or comment.
Tom and his wife, Barbara, have lived in Bloomingdale Township (unincorporated Glen Ellyn Countryside) for forty years. Their three children attended District 16 Queen Bee Elementary School District and Glenbard West High School. Tom worked for the Illinois Education Association for 26 years. Prior to that, he taught Social Studies for 17 years--his last teaching job was at Geneva High School in Geneva, Illinois.
Tom has dedicated much of his life to public service. He organized the Glen Hill Elementary PTO and he helped to organize Concerned Parents of Queen Bee School District, which exposed political corruption and misappropriation of school district funds and led to felony indictments and the restoration of program cuts. For the past nine years, Tom has served as the elected Bloomingdale Democratic Party Precinct 21 committeeman. For more than 35 years, Tom has served on the Executive Committee of the Illinois Labor History Society.
Education:
St. Joseph High School
University of Illinois at Chicago, Bachelor of Arts, History
University of Illinois at Chicago, Master of Arts, History
Northern Illinois University, Certificate of Advanced Studies-Labor History
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