Scott Lennon, who's running to be the alderman for Berwyn's 1st Ward, says that when he moved there 15 years ago, he and his partner "didn't know a soul."
"We started going out to restaurants, bars and events, and we really just started meeting a lot of people," Lennon recalled. "Once I started doing that, I kind of started getting involved. I got involved with the development corporation and the chamber of commerce. Then we started doing the marketing for the city at Northalsted Market Days."
For the last several years, the city has aggressively promoted itself at the August festival; Lennon was one of the founders of that effort. He is an ally of Berwyn's current mayor, Robert J. Lovero, and has been the vice-president of board of directors of the Berwyn Development Corporation for nine years. He's also one of five openly gay residents in the running for the February city primaries.
"I think that's great," Lennon said of the other candidates, who are running on a rival ticket. "It's great in all aspects; I don't fear it. We're all part of the family, but we have different views."
He said that Berwyn has built a great deal of momentum in attracting new residents and businesses and thinks that his election would contribute to its continuation.
"We need to keep this thing going," Lennon explained. "I was afraid that if I didn't run, somebody else might get in there who doesn't really have the same passion that's increased our neighborhood."
Lennon said that much of the 1st Ward's infrastructure needs improvement.
"We've got 100-year-old sewers and 50-year-old streets, and sidewalks that need repair," he said. "For the last several years, we've been working on receiving grants and securing money so we can improve and redevelop that infrastructure. I want to see that continue."
Berwyn had a 10-percent increase in residents in 2015, according to Lennon. As a gay man, he added, "I have never felt so comfortable living with the residents of a community and I do with the residents of this community. There's no fear. When you walk down the street, we know who's who. People know when there is a gay couple living here or there. Part of it may be the time we're in today, but with us embracing that, I truly think it's really created a safe environment not only for the LGBT community but all of us in general. To have an administration, mayor and aldermen supporting this is key."
This acceptance is something he hopes can continue under his watch should he be elected alderman.
"This is not something I planned on doing 10 years ago," Lennon recalled. "But I've also prepared myself with all that I've been through, with committees on the city. People that run for office have to understand that you're giving up your life and you have to be everywhere, and you really have to be at every meeting and smile. … It's a lot of work and it takes a lot of time to prepare, so I want to make sure that whoever gets elected learns and that we learn together, and that we can have a positive impact at the end of the day for our town."
