“I’m right there with them,” Jennifer Frankowicz said, reflecting on the residents of Palos Hills’ 3rd Ward. “I feel the impact of our bills going up, our taxes rising, and I want to be part of the solution.”
Frankowicz, a longtime resident of Palos Hills, is running for 3rd Ward alderman in the upcoming election on April 1. She is facing Sandy Szczygiel, and, if elected, will join Ald. Mike Lebarre in representing the ward. The seat was previously held by A.J. Pasek, who is now running for mayor.
Frankowicz has spent most of her life in Palos Hills, moving to the city with her family when she was 13. Over the years, she has built a career in education while staying involved in civic life. She holds two master’s degrees—one in school psychology and another in educational administration—and currently works in the Valley View School District, where she leads Individualized Education Program meetings and supports special education teachers.
Outside of her career, she has served on the Palos Hills police pension board since 2021 and is co-vice president of The Hills of Palos homeowners association. She and her husband, Thomas, regularly volunteer at Sacred Heart Church, and they recently joined the Palos Hills Horseman’s Association, a group dedicated to maintaining the forest preserves and supporting equestrian rights in the 3rd Ward.
As she has gone door-to-door meeting with residents, she has heard a range of concerns, but one issue continues to come up: rising property taxes. She said the increase has been difficult for many homeowners.
“Our house taxes have gone up like 20% in the last year or so,” she said. “Everybody is getting squeezed.”
She wants to ensure that tax dollars are being used efficiently at the local level and believes city funds should continue to be spent responsibly. Beyond financial concerns, she sees a need to support public services, including police, fire, and community programs that serve residents of all ages. She also wants to keep city leaders focused on issues such as the police pension board and ensure that public safety remains a priority.
Infrastructure has also been a focus of her conversations with residents, particularly concerns about retention ponds in several subdivisions. She pointed to problems in her own neighborhood and others near 95th and Kean, including Cinnamon Creek and Sandcastle.
“We get a lot of silt and things like that coming from underneath 95th from Hickory Hills, and it’s going to cost my association over $100,000 next summer to upkeep,” she said.
She believes the issue requires more attention from the city council, especially considering how many residents are affected. With the current design being too shallow, she said, the cost of maintenance will only continue to grow. She hopes to advocate for solutions and ensure that homeowners’ concerns are heard.
In addition to addressing financial and infrastructure issues, she wants to focus on improving communication between residents and city officials. Many of the people she has spoken with were unaware of who their alderman was or that they could reach out directly to local officials.
“A lot of people don’t know who their city officials are, or that they can even reach out to them,” she said. “They don’t realize there’s someone on the city council who probably lives in their area and is there to help them.”
If elected, she plans to increase her visibility in the ward and ensure residents feel comfortable reaching out with concerns. While she already attends many city events, she said she would use her summers off to meet more people, introduce herself to new residents, and connect with those she hasn’t yet had the chance to speak with. She also hopes to implement more consistent communication, including regular meetings and possibly quarterly mailings to keep residents informed.
Looking ahead, she envisions a 3rd Ward where residents feel more engaged and connected to their local government. She said that many people she has spoken with love living in Palos Hills, and she wants to maintain that sense of community while making local leadership more accessible.
“I hope people feel more comfortable sharing their thoughts and knowing they’re not alone in their community,” she said. “Most people tell me they love living here, and I want that to continue.”
She believes leadership should be about service and ensuring that residents feel heard.
“When you provide service to people, that’s how you show you care,” she said. “We all have a responsibility—not everyone has to run for alderman, but we’re all in this together.”
As election day approaches, she hopes voters will see her as someone who understands the challenges they face.
“They should vote for me because I’m right there with them,” she said. “I feel the impact of our bills going up, our taxes rising, and I want to be part of the solution.”
Above all, she encourages residents to stay engaged and involved, no matter who they support.
“One thing we can do is vote and be active,” she said. “Those are the things that can create change.”
As she wrapped up the conversation, she reflected on something her late mother often told her.
“My mom always said, ‘We all put our pants on one leg at a time.’”
For Frankowicz, that serves as a reminder that leadership isn’t about status—it’s about service.
The election is April 1. Early voting starts Monday, March 17.
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