Trimaine Wilson, a Forest Park business owner and 25-year resident, is running for mayor on a platform of financial transparency and fiscal discipline.

Wilson is the second candidate to enter the April 6 race, joining Michelle Melin-Rogovin, who announced her candidacy earlier this fall, according to the Forest Park Review. Wilson announced his bid in late October.

Wilson owns two businesses: Trimaine Snow Plowing & Landscaping, which he started in 2009, and Trimaine Security Solutions, where he teaches firearm instruction, first aid and CPR. His landscaping company serves commercial accounts in Oak Park and residential customers across Forest Park, River Forest, Broadview and Chicago.

He told the Forest Park Review he wants to make the village a place people want to live and build businesses. He said he plans to work on stabilizing the budget and pushing for more transparency from village government.

Deficit and village finances

Wilson said he would address what he described as the village's $15 million deficit through long-term budget planning, a review of village spending, and pursuing grants and sustainable revenue. He said he would look at renegotiating or eliminating village contracts that are not beneficial.

The village's finances have drawn scrutiny. The village council approved the fiscal year 2027 budget in July with a projected $3.7 million deficit and no new revenue sources identified, the Forest Park Review reported. The village's own FY2027 budget summary projects a net change in fund balance of roughly negative $14.8 million across all funds.

Wilson said he would push for transparent public reporting on village finances, telling the Review that every decision the village makes should be known to residents.

Business climate and policing

As a business owner, Wilson said he hears complaints that the village is not business-friendly. He told the Review that Forest Park has lost business owners to other villages. If elected, he said he would consider policies to help businesses succeed, make village processes easier to navigate and create events like a summer Taste of Forest Park.

Wilson also listed accountable policing as a priority. He said that starts with reviewing guidelines and training for the Forest Park Police Department. He referenced lawsuits he said should not have happened, and said residents have raised concerns about Lt. Daniel Miller's paid administrative leave, which has lasted five months. The Forest Park Review reported that an investigation into Miller is wrapping up after he allegedly forcibly detained a woman while off duty in April.

Wilson also said he does not support the O'Hare Flyer express train project coming through Forest Park. He wants independent studies of its community impact.

Political background

Wilson said he has campaign experience from working on races for Jesse Jackson, Rahm Emanuel and La Shawn Ford. He still needs to collect roughly 30 signatures to get his name on the April 6 ballot.

That's not the only change in Forest Park politics. Separately, Maria Maxham posted on Facebook on Oct. 13 that she was resigning as the village's commissioner of accounts and finance with six months left in her four-year term.