An Independent Representative
In 2021, I became the first Independent elected to the Skokie Village Board. Since 1965, all other Village officials have come from the Skokie Caucus Party, a local political group that perpetuates one-party government and patronage politics. My success proved that Skokie residents are ready for new voices in Village government.
In 2022, I spearheaded a referendum campaign to update our Village elections. Hundreds of community members rallied to support the Skokie Alliance for Electoral Reform, organize the largest petition campaign in Skokie history, and pass the first voter-initiated reforms of our Village government since 1957. Moving forward, our Village elections will be nonpartisan, with more candidate choice and voter engagement.
Now I’m running for Village Clerk! Through the Clerk’s Office, I will continue to promote a welcoming, transparent, and accessible Village government. As an Independent, millennial (age 35), LGBTQ+ (queer/nonbinary), educator and community organizer, I am beyond proud to represent Skokie, Illinois – one of the most beautifully multicultural and interfaith communities in the nation. The work continues!
Background and Education
“Think globally, act locally.” My spouse and I live in a small condo in downtown Skokie, close to local treasures like the Farmer’s Market, the Skokie Public Library, and Emily Oaks Nature Center. Though my family is originally from North Carolina, I grew up in Costa Rica, Honduras, and El Salvador. As a young adult, I continued to work and study abroad in Haiti, Nepal, Taiwan, Thailand, Uruguay, India, and Turkey. I don’t travel very much these days, so it’s a blessing to live in an international community like Skokie.
“Revolution of the heart.” Before moving to Illinois, I spent three years living in an intentional community of activists in Winona, Minnesota. I helped run a house of hospitality for homeless families, and also became a leader in a regional campaign against strip-mining. After I got married, I went to graduate school and became a high school educator in the Catholic school system, and I continue to teach courses in social justice, ethics, and religious studies. I currently work at Regina Dominican High School, an all-girls academy dedicated to “challenging young women to be independent thinkers, relentless truth-seekers, and confident, compassionate leaders.”
- I.B. Diploma from Academia Británica Cuscatleca – San Salvador, El Salvador
- B.A. in Religion from Davidson College – Davidson, North Carolina
- M.A. in Theological Studies, Minor in Education from Loyola University Chicago – Chicago, Illinois
James Johnson for Skokie Clerk 