Daily Herald: New Carpentersville Trustee to Represent Latino Community
As a parent support liaison for Community Unit District 300, Maria Vela has spent the last five years working with and listening to the needs of minority families in the district. She hopes that experience will serve her well as she represents the Latino community on the Carpentersville village board.
Vela, who was born in Mexico and raised in Chicago, moved 17 years ago to Carpentersville -- a town she now considers home. She takes over the seat of former trustee Don Burroway, who is moving out of state.
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Skillman said Vela's appointment was being considered before the village received a letter from the Campaign Legal Center alleging Carpentersville's election system could be stifling minority representation on the village board.
In the March 15 note, Chicago representatives for the Washington D.C.-based agency claimed the village's at-large voting practice is diluting the votes of Latino residents, and offered suggestions for addressing the issue.