South Holland Village President Don DeGraff appointed John R. Russell as Village Trustee in October 2017 to fill the unexpired term of the late Dr. John Sullivan. He serves as Chairman of the Village's Finance Committee, as well as being a member of the Public Safety Committee and Community Development Committee. He was re-elected in 2019. 

 

Prior to his appointment, Mr. Russell served in Village government for a quarter-century. He was President of the Board of Trustees of the South Holland Public Library, where he served for 17 years. He also was a member of the Village’s Planning and Development Commission for 25 years, where he served as Chairman. 

 

Mr. Russell is also active as a volunteer in the community. He participates in and was a past board member for the South Holland Business Association. He is the chairman of the District 205 Academic Enrichment Foundation. He serves on the Board of Trustees for Calvary Academy, a private Christian School in South Holland. He is member of Spirit of God Fellowship in South Holland, where he serves as an Elder. He also actively supports Restoration Ministries, where he serves as a bible teacher and mentor for men recovering from addiction. 

 

Mr. Russell is an attorney by trade, running his own private law practice in Homewood, Illinois. He also serves as an adjudicative hearing officer for the Village of Park Forest, Illinois, and is of-counsel with the Chicago law firm of Laner Muchin, which specializes in management-side labor and employment law. 

 

Mr. Russell graduated from McKinley Junior High School and Thornwood High School. in South Holland. He and his wife Susan are the parents of four children – Simi, Tara, Cassandra, and Frank. 

 

Growing up in South Holland, Mr. Russell has been invested in the community all his life. Even in the periods of time he was away for schooling, he always wanted to return home. He shares the vision that the Mayor, Board of Trustees, and Village Administration have for the town – embodied in the motto “Faith, Family, Future.” The shared values of the people of South Holland – people who live, work, or worship here – form a foundation that has allowed the Village to grow and flourish, even in difficult times. Mr. Russell is committed to help maintain those values, and to help expand and sharpen that vision. He is especially excited to be part of the Mayor’s new strategic plan, “Coming Together 2030,” which envisions key community groups creatively developing ways to serve the Village, help connect and unite our citizens, and enhance the vitalize the quality of community life. “Coming Together,” we work toward continuing to make South Holland a great place to live and work – a great place to call “home.”