Sue Gould

Endorsed by Journal & Topics! Vote today for Palatine Park District Commissioners: Sue Gould and William Van Giesen.

Read on to learn more about Candidate (and current Board Member) Sue Gould.

General Background

How long have you lived in the Palatine Park District?

Sue: I have lived in Palatine all my life. In fact, my great-grandparents came to Palatine in 1892.

What is your favorite thing about living in Palatine?

Sue: My favorite thing about Palatine is the people. I like that there are singles, families, extended families, young people and seniors. We also have a great deal of diversity in ethnicity, religion and language, which helps us learn about and understand the rest of the world.

Park District Involvement & Vision

What inspired you to run for the Palatine Park District Board of Commissioners?

Sue: I first ran to be a Commissioner in 1993 when there was a referendum on the ballot to develop Hamilton Park. I felt it was poorly designed and catered to only a small number of participants. I felt that by running for Commissioner I could point out the plan’s flaws and defeat the referendum. The referendum was not approved, and I won the election.

Why do you believe the Palatine Park District is important to the community?

Sue: The park district is one of the “spokes in the wheel” that makes Palatine a great place to live. Along with the school districts, the library, Harper College and other organizations, the park district provides activities for residents of all ages.

What is your vision for the future of the Palatine Park District?

Sue: I believe that, in the future, the Palatine Park District needs to get back to being transparent about our decisions and to listen to our constituents’ wants and needs. We are the caretakers of our residents’ tax dollars, and they need to be able to communicate openly with the Board of Commissioners and the staff.

Palatine Stables & Park District Facilities

Why are the Palatine Stables important to you and the community?

Sue: The Palatine Stables played an important role in the community by providing a unique recreational activity for children and adults. Palatine was a small town surrounded by farms for over a century, and it was good for our residents to get a glimpse of that life. Most park districts have amenities such as golf courses and swimming pools, but very few have a first-class equestrian facility such as Palatine Stables.

What role do you believe the Park District should play in preserving and supporting equestrian programs?

Sue: I believe that the Palatine Park District should support and encourage equestrian programs because of the values they teach to the participants. Children of all ages can safely learn about taking care of animals, teamwork, friendly competition and responsibility. Those values will serve them well for the rest of their lives.

The closure of Palatine Stables this year was a controversial issue. How do you feel the situation was handled? What would you have done differently?

Sue: The issue of closing the Stables was handled horribly. None of the normal procedures and processes were followed, which led to confusion and distrust. The motion to close the facility was placed on the May 13, 2024 Agenda without any previous discussions, so several of the Commissioners were blind-sided. The estimates for repairs weren’t credible and no competing bids for repairs or rebuilding were obtained. The Board, the residents and the patrons of the Stables were given false and misleading information by the Executive Director. I would have had a workshop type of meeting to discuss the Stables, obtained ideas and bids from reputable contractors who could actually do the work, and talked to the users of the Stables about their wants and needs. Unfortunately, hundreds of people attended the subsequent meetings, sent emails in support of the Stables and signed petitions to keep the Stables open, but all were ignored.  

If elected, how will you advocate for the future of Palatine Stables and other park district facilities?

Sue: I’ve always felt that the Palatine Park District had “3” jewels that set it apart from other park districts. One is the George Clayson House Museum, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, the second one is Cutting Hall, which is a superb theater-arts facility that is used for park district programming and by local theater and musical groups, and the third was the Stables, which allowed our residents and others to participate in unique recreational activities while getting a taste of our rural background. I feel that all three of these jewels should continue to be supported by and cared for by the park district.

Community Engagement & Fiscal Responsibility

How do you plan to ensure that the Park District remains transparent and accountable to the residents?

Sue: I will continue to strive for the park district to be completely transparent and accountable to the residents. I will try to convince the other Commissioners that it is our duty to our taxpayers to be sure that they know that we are being fiscally responsible while providing first-class recreational programs and facilities. I will continue to try to respond to every email I receive and to all questions and comments that are made online.

What are your priorities when it comes to budgeting and funding decisions for park district programs and facilities?

Sue: The park district is fiscally responsible, and the budget is balanced. Many decisions need to be made every month to ensure that our staff members are fairly compensated and feel valued. While looking forward to choose what recreational opportunities should be offered in the future, we need to maintain our current programs and facilities.

How will you engage with the community to ensure their voices are heard in decisions affecting the Park District?

Sue: I’ve always considered myself to be an “ambassador” for the park district. As a Realtor, I meet daily with our current residents and with people who are considering moving into our area. I encourage everyone to check out our program guide and our website so they can become fully informed about everything the park district offers. I also am a business sponsor for many of the events during the year and therefore am present at them. In addition, I have provided giveaway items to make the experiences at the events more enjoyable for the attendees. I tell people I’m a Commissioner and ask for their opinions on the park district activities. If someone contacts me with a question or a comment, I respond immediately and put them in touch with the correct staff member who can help them. I hope that our residents and patrons feel that I will listen to them about their concerns.