Second lawyer, Carole Ruzich, enters race for Orland Park trustee

Second lawyer, Carole Ruzich, enters race for Orland Park trustee

Carole Ruzich announced her intentions to run for Orland Park Village Trustee in the 2011 election. Carole, a seventeen-year resident of Orland Park, has a strong interest in keeping Orland Park moving in the right direction. Carole wants to add to the youth recreation programs in the village. “Keeping children off the street and involved in healthy activities is the right thing to do for our children, as well as the community,” Carole said. “My own experience coaching, allowed me the opportunity to see the value in building self confidence in our children through their participation in outside activities.”

Carole also expressed a desire to use her legal background to help the many families struggling with the threat of foreclosure. “There are numerous options for people, and I would like to create a financial and legal counseling service to help keep families in their homes,” she said.

Carole was born and raised in Evergreen Park, IL, and graduated from Mother McAuley High School. She attended Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, IN and graduated magna cum laude in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and History. Thereafter, she attended the University of Illinois Law School where she obtained her law degree in 1986.

After graduating from law school, she joined the law firm of Pretzel & Stouffer, Chartered, as an associate attorney where she practiced primarily in the area of medical malpractice defense. She also worked for a suburban law firm before joining a local community bank as a Staff Attorney. In 1999, Carole joined her family’s law firm, Griffin & Gallagher, LLC, where her practice areas include creditor’s rights, real estate law and estate administration.

Carole has been a member of the Orland Park Board of Fire and Police Commissioners since 1999, where she currently serves as the Secretary of the Board. She has been a long time volunteer at Saint Michael’s Parish, including serving as a member of the Parish Ministry Commission, the Education Ministry Team and the Athletic Board, as well as coaching grammar school boys and girls volleyball teams. She has also been a member of the Board of Directors of Palos Community Hospital since 2000.

Carole is married to Larry Ruzich, and has two children, Dan and Megan, and one stepdaughter, Kimberly.
Carole looks forward to the campaign and the opportunity to serve the residents of Orland Park as a village trustee.

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