Will County Forest District board elects new president

Destinee Ortiz of Romeoville was elected president of the Will County Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners during a reorganization meeting held on Thursday, Dec. 19.

She succeeds former Annette Parker of Lockport, who was elected Will County clerk on Nov. 5 and is no longer on the Forest Preserve District Board. Ortiz will serve the first year of a two-year term.

Judy Ogalla of Monee was chosen by the board to serve as president for the second year of the two-year term, and she will become board president in December 2025, according to a release from the forest preserve district.

The term was split because there is an even number of Democrats and Republicans on the 22-member board.

Ortiz, who was elected to the board in 2022, is a Democrat, and Ogalla, who was elected to the board in 2012, is a Republican. Ogalla will be vice president while Ortiz is president, and Ortiz will be vice president when Ogalla is president, according to the release.

Ortiz, a special education paraprofessional, said she was “humbled and grateful” to be chosen to the leadership role.

“I feel a deep connection to the land and the communities we serve, knowing that I have the privilege and duty to guide decisions that will affect the environment for generations to come. There is a sense of purpose in knowing that I am part of something bigger than myself, working alongside passionate individuals to preserve the beauty of our forests and parks,” Ortiz said in the release.

Ortiz also noted that she is the first Generation Z and Latina to serve as president of the Forest Preserve District Board. She and her husband Rafael have three children.

She said her Latino heritage values stewardship of the land and Gen Z is focused on climate change, conservation and sustainability, which all align with the mission of the forest preserve district.

“I am committed to ensuring that conservation efforts remain at the heart of the Forest Preserve’s work, while also addressing the evolving needs of our communities,” she said.

The board also elected Julie Berkowicz of Naperville as treasurer and Mica Freeman of Plainfield as secretary at the Dec. 19 reorganization meeting, according to the release.

Ortiz selected committee chairs and vice chairs with the advice and consent of the board, according to the release.

Katie Deane-Schlottman of Joliet will chair the operations committee, and Kelly Hickey of Naperville will serve as vice chair, while Sherry Newquist of Steger will chair the finance committee, and Vince Logan of Joliet will serve as vice chair.

Herbert Brooks Jr. of Joliet will chair the ad hoc committee, and Frankie Pretzel of New Lenox will serve as vice chair.

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