Forest Park Commissioner Maria Maxham resigned her council seat and dropped out of the April 2027 mayoral race, citing family reasons.

Maxham, the village's commissioner of accounts and finance, posted the announcement on her Facebook page Tuesday, Oct. 13, as first reported by the Forest Park Review. She was absent from the village council meeting that evening, and the village clerk did not call her name during roll call.

In her Facebook post, Maxham said "deeply personal family matters" required her full attention and that she and her family had agreed stepping back from public life was the right decision. She asked for privacy.

The resignation creates a vacancy on the village council. As commissioner of accounts and finance, Maxham oversaw the village's fiscal records and served as council vice president.

Her exit also reshuffles the April 6 mayoral election. Maxham had announced her candidacy just days earlier, telling the Forest Park Review that her first priority as mayor would be creating a plan to address the village's more-than-$15 million deficit. Nov. 23 is the last day for mayoral candidates to file nomination papers.

At the Oct. 13 meeting, commissioners acknowledged the departure. Commissioner Ryan Nero said he was surprised and noted the empty seat beside him.

"Obviously, there's a vacancy right here … I was quite surprised by that," Nero said, according to the Review. "I enjoyed serving with Maria, and I wish her and her family all the best."

Commissioner Michelle Melin-Rogovin, who said she had served with Maxham for four years, said anyone who steps up to serve the village in public office deserves respect. Commissioner Jessica Voogd said she was shocked by the news and hoped Maxham would receive the privacy she requested.

Maxham had been an outspoken presence on the council. At the Sept. 14 meeting, she publicly accused the mayor of excluding her from village business, according to earlier Review reporting.

Forest Park faces significant fiscal pressure. The village's police and fire pensions are both under 40% funded and need a combined $74 million to $87 million, according to figures Maxham cited at an April council meeting, as reported by the Review. The village's FY2027 draft budget projects a general fund loss of more than $5.1 million.

The village council has not announced how it will fill the vacancy.