Candidate questionnaire: Meet the Princeton Park District Board candidates

Chris Blanford

Employment: Perry Memorial Hospital - Family Medicine Physician.

Government experience: None.

Community involvement: Princeton Jaycees member for several years.

Why are you seeking this position? Two years ago I had approached the park district to discuss developing a dog park in Princeton as this was something I enjoyed in other communities I had lived in while pursuing my education. I felt that it was something that would add value to the park district and the community as a whole. During this process I attended multiple board meetings and learned a fair amount about other aspects of the park district. As part of the Princeton Jaycees, I have worked to give back to the community and feel that serving as a board member would be one way that I could accomplish this.

What do you feel you have to offer that makes the board better able to meet community needs? While working on the proposed dog park, I had many members of the community approach me to discuss other aspects of the park as well. I feel I have a good idea of what the community needs are in terms of the park district.

How can the park district continue to make its programming, facilities and recreational areas even more accessible and inclusive? I think the park district does a great job at trying to be as inclusive and accessible as possible. Although I do think that there are opportunities to work with other community organizations to help bolster the use of some aspects of the park.

What do you believe is the greatest issue the park district will face in the next few years? How would you handle that issue? The coronavirus pandemic continues to burden many aspects of our lives. The park district has done a great job so far in terms of adapting to comply with the safety recommendations while also trying to meet the needs of the community. Helping to get people active in a safe manner will be especially important over the next year or two as I have seen many patients’ chronic conditions worsen over the past year due to decreased physical activity as people have felt stuck inside due to the pandemic and the winter months.

What have you learned from the COVID experience that relates to the park district? Our ability to adapt. Change is difficult, but sometimes necessary. The park district has worked to safely open the Metro Center and hopefully we can steadily return to a new normal over the next year.

Why should voters elect you? Raising a young family, I appreciate what the park district has to offer the community. And although my time spent with the proposed dog park didn’t go as I had planned, I learned to appreciate the complexities of the park district and want to be a part of it.


Thomas J. Jagers (Tom)

Employment: Bank examiner with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

Governmental experience: Employed by the FDIC for 33+ years with positions held in Princeton, Ill., Madison, Wis., Kansas City, Mo., and Washington, D.C.

Community involvement: Active member of St. Louis Parish, Knights of Columbus, WyldLife Leaders.

Why are you seeking this position? I want to help promote the park district and its facilities to the citizens of Princeton and surrounding areas. With many beautiful parks and a versatile and well-maintained Metro Center in Princeton, I want to see them utilized and enjoyed by more people.

What do you feel you have to offer that makes the board better able to meet community needs? I am committed to listening to people and addressing their concerns. I am open to new ideas and want to see continued improvement in the park district’s facilities.

How can the park district continue to make its programming, facilities and recreational areas even more accessible and inclusive? Greater publicity and more public awareness. Princeton is blessed with many beautiful parks and a multi-purpose facility in the Metro Center. These positive attributes should be highlighted to a greater extent with more advertising of programs, events and extended hours.

What do you believe is the greatest issue the park district will face in the next few years? How would you handle that issue? Declining memberships. I would try to determine why people have decided to cancel their memberships at the Metro Center or decided not to join and see if there are ways the park district can bring them back or help them decide to join.

What have you learned from the COVID experience that relates to the park district? I have learned that as difficult as this pandemic has been on everyone, life must go on and people want to have something to feel good about. As a prospective park district board member, I feel a responsibility to offer as many opportunities as possible for people to enjoy the parks, exercise at the Metro Center and have an overall positive outlook on the future.

Why should the voters elect you? I will work tirelessly to help the park board make necessary decisions to benefit the citizens of Princeton and surrounding areas. As a resident of Princeton for over 20 years with my wife and two sons, I have a strong desire and commitment to serve the public. I will listen, carefully consider and appropriately respond to matters involving the park district that impact all of us.