Information provided by IGOV, last updated October 2025.
Thinking about running for an elected office in Oak Park, Illinois? Opportunities exist across municipal, township, school, library, park, and college governance.
Elected offices
Municipal offices (Village of Oak Park)
- Village President
- Village Clerk
- Village Board of Trustees
Township offices (Oak Park Township)
- Township Supervisor
- Township Clerk
- Township Assessor
- Township Board of Trustees
Elementary school district offices (Oak Park Elementary School District 97)
- Oak Park Elementary School District 97 Board of Education Trustees
High school district offices (Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200)
- Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 Board of Education Trustees
Library offices (Oak Park Public Library)
- Oak Park Public Library Board of Trustees
Park district offices (Oak Park Park District)
- Park District of Oak Park Board of Commissioners
College offices (Triton College Community College D504)
- Triton College Community College District 504 Board of Trustees
4 steps to running for office
Step 1: The reality check: Is this for me?
Before launching a campaign, it’s important to understand what serving in a local office really involves.
The role: Governance, not day-to-day management
Your responsibilities are strategic:
- Set direction: Establish policy, set goals, and approve budgets.
- Hire the top executive: You may hire the head of the organization (e.g., library director or superintendent), but you do not manage staff or daily operations.
- Serve the public: Decisions must prioritize the community’s best interests, requiring ethics, transparency, and resilience.
Village and township clerk roles, as well as the township assessor role, vary slightly from trustee/president/supervisor roles, in that they do provide administrative support and essential core services. These roles are also compensated and essential to perform government duties.
The commitment: More than meetings
- Time: Expect 10–30+ hours per month on meetings, preparation, emails, and events.
- Public scrutiny: Your decisions—and sometimes your past—will be public. State law defines public meetings and communications as subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
- Family & support: Discuss time commitments and public exposure with your household and support system.
Know your “why”
Be clear on your motivation—whether solving a problem, serving your community, or championing a vision—to stay focused throughout the campaign.
Step 2: Your pre-campaign homework—do this now
Before hitting the campaign trail, do your research to understand the role.
- Attend a meeting: Observe the board in action. Notice the dynamics, issues, and decision-making process.
- Talk to a current board member: Ask the tough question: “What do you wish you knew before you ran?”
- Talk to the director/superintendent: Gain insight into the board’s role from the staff perspective. (Before doing this, ensure that it is allowable and embraced by your institution.)
- Research the rules: Review bylaws, policies, and recent meeting minutes to see how the board operates.
Step 3: The nuts & bolts of getting on the ballot
The formal process begins months before the election.
- Official resources: Bookmark the Cook County Clerk’s Office website for official forms and deadlines. Ensure you have the correct forms for the office you are seeking. The Illinois State Board of Elections Candidate Guides are also a helpful resource.
- Timeline: The active campaign period typically runs from September to April, with filing in mid-November.
- Petitions: Most offices require petition signatures from registered voters in your district.
- How many: Signature requirements for offices that file with the Illinois State Board of Elections are publicly available. For offices that do not file with the State Board, candidates should contact the appropriate election authority (Office of the Oak Park Village Clerk) to confirm the exact number of signatures needed.
- Pro tips:
- Although some petition forms look very similar, they are quite specific to the elected office. Be sure to select the correct petition form for the office you seek.
- Collect at least 30% more signatures than required to account for challenges or invalid entries.
- Where to collect: Farmers’ markets, grocery stores, block parties, and community events are good opportunities.
- Submitting your petition: Review the requirements for submitting nominating petitions carefully to avoid having your petitions rejected. Ensure that your petitions are signed by the circulator and notarized, with the pages properly numbered and bound. Include any additional documents as outlined in the Candidate Guide.
Key filing information
To ensure your candidacy proceeds smoothly, please be aware of the following critical dates and instructions. Mark your calendars and prepare accordingly.
- Petition circulation begins: The first day you are legally permitted to start collecting signatures from registered voters.
- Filing period opens: The first day you can officially submit your completed nominating petitions and required documents to the election authority.
- Filing period closes: This is the absolute deadline for submission. Petitions received after this date and time will not be accepted.
- Submission location: The official office where you must file your paperwork.
Step 4: Running a campaign
Once you file, you’re an official candidate. However, several important deadlines and activities occur before this point:
- Objections to nomination papers: Objections can be filed within five business days after the last day for filing petitions.
- Withdrawal from incompatible offices: Candidates must withdraw from incompatible offices by the last day for filing objections.
- Ballot placement lottery: If multiple candidates file simultaneously, a lottery is conducted within 9 days following the last day for petition filing.
- Withdrawal of candidacy: Candidates may withdraw by filing withdrawal papers with the appropriate authority.
Write-in candidates
- Deadline to file declaration of intent: A notarized declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate must be filed no later than 61 days prior to the election.
Campaign activities
- Connect with voters: Engage with neighbors through “meet the candidate” events. Be prepared to listen and share your vision for the community.
- Participate in the process: Respond to questionnaires from local media and attend forums organized by groups such as the League of Women Voters.
- Funding & accessibility: Many local campaigns are low-budget. Illinois law allows the use of campaign funds for childcare expenses incurred while campaigning or serving, making offices more accessible for parents.
- Fundraising: Be prepared to ask for financial support and familiarize yourself with campaign disclosure requirements on the Illinois State Board of Elections website.
You’re qualified to serve
You don’t need a fancy degree or a special title to step up. What matters is your dedication to your community, your eagerness to learn, and your courage to serve. If that sounds like you, then you’re exactly who our local government needs.