Meet Elizabeth Lindquist: candidate for Roscoe Township Trustee

Elizabeth Lindquist is running for Roscoe Township Trustee in the April 1 election. Check out all our candidate profiles in our expanded 2025 Election Guide for Roscoe, Rockton, and South Beloit.

Why did you decide to run?

Back in 2017, after spending ten years working on the problem of how to end the corrupting influence of money in politics, I’d become super frustrated. A friend suggested I run for local office. Obviously, that wasn’t going to fix the problem I’d been working on, but at least it would give me the opportunity to actually accomplish something concrete to benefit my community. Township government was what was open to me, so I ran for Trustee. I had no idea what I was getting into. Eight years on, I’m grateful for that friend’s suggestion.

Tell us about your background and accomplishments that you bring to the table.

My husband Rick and I have lived in Roscoe for 22 years. We raised our two daughters here. I’ve been a pharmacist for 33 years and for the last 16 years I’ve specialized in caring for patients with cancer. The vigilance and attention to detail required by my profession as a pharmacist are the same qualities I bring to my role as Township Trustee — ensuring careful oversight, responsible budgeting, and thoughtful decision-making for our community.

As Trustee, the first project I led was the selection and purchase of the playground at Kelley Myers Park. I began that process by going to playgrounds in our area and asking the kids what they liked and what equipment they wished we had. The vendors gave me lists of projects they’d done in Winnebago County over the last 20 years and I visited those parks. I climbed on the equipment myself, to see what had held up well over the years and what had not. I don’t have any grandkids to take to the park yet, but every once in a while I head over to Kelley Myers to make sure the kids are still enjoying the equipment we selected. I’m happy to report they are.

Soon after that, we began the Founders Park project. Key to that effort has been the private funding of the restoration of the Cross Homestead by the Roscoe Township Historical Society. I was a founding member of the Society and continue to serve on its board.

It sounds funny, but part of my role has been to serve as assistant to the Supervisor’s Assistant, Dawn Cassady. Dawn and I have worked closely together over the years to solve problems and achieve many of our goals. I helped her write three state grant applications, two of which we won (without hiring grant writers). Our skill sets compliment each other and we work well as a team.

I led the effort to provide and publicize our free and low-cost programming at the Community Center. We surveyed residents to see what they wanted, searched out community volunteers willing to provide services and lead clubs, and developed a plan to market it all. Our current programming includes: the Roscoe Gardening Club, the Roscoe Travelers travel club, yoga & chair yoga, euchre, the Spanish Conversation Club, scrapbooking, Game Days, Watercolors Class, and knitting & crochet nights. We’ve also held classes on genealogy, computers & on-line safety, Roscoe history, and teen mental health, and more. We’ve collaborated periodically with 50 North on movie showings and other events. Residents can check the Community Center calendar for most updated dates and times of events here.

What do you hope to accomplish in this office in the future?

The major building at Founders Park is complete, but there’s more work to do. I want to expand weekday programming at the Community Center. I know we have more seniors and retirees with unique knowledge and skills they’d enjoy sharing with their neighbors, I just need to find them. I’d like to start a daytime group for parents and their young children to connect, play, and support each other. We have plans this year to expand parking at Founders Park, install ventilated improved pit toilets at Cross Park, and plant native trees at Founders. I’d like to work with the Roscoe Gardening Club on a community garden. Establishing a farmers market at Founders has always been part of our plans. We can start working on that after the parking lot expansion.

Why should people vote for you?

I understand how to use the levers of government to benefit the people of Roscoe Township and am deeply committed to using my knowledge to improve our community. Years ago Trustee Terri Michelson and I wanted to stop a decision we knew was not optimal for the board. We were only two trustees, we didn’t have the votes, but we found a way to use those levers to block that decision, and in the end the people of Roscoe Township were given the opportunity to make it. I know a vote isn’t a board member’s only tool. I’m dedicated and focused. Over the years I have consistently put in the effort, time, and energy to make a meaningful impact. I have a documented history of taking my responsibility to taxpayers seriously, making sure we avoid debt, maintain a safe financial reserve, and use every tool available to optimize services at minimal cost.