Lauren Roman - headshot
Local News

Local real estate agent appointed to Homewood board

Homewood’s newest trustee grew up in the village and is now raising her family here. Homewood Mayor Richard Hofeld announced Thursday, April 19, that Lauren Roman, a 2003 graduate of Homewood-Flossmoor High School, will be sworn in at the regular board of trustees meeting on Tuesday, April 24.

Homewood’s newest trustee grew up in the village and is now raising her family here. 

  Lauren Roman

Homewood Mayor Richard Hofeld announced Thursday, April 19, that Lauren Roman, a 2003 graduate of Homewood-Flossmoor High School, with the consent of the board of trustees, will be sworn in at the regular board meeting on Tuesday, April 24.

Roman will serve in the seat vacated by Anne Colton, who resigned April 9. Roman said Hofeld asked if she would serve. 

“I’m honored that I was asked, and I’m excited about the opportunity,” she said. 

Roman has been on the village Community Relations Commission since 2012. The commission sponsors Homewood’s festivals, and she said her experience as a volunteer at those events the past six years will be useful as she adapts to the role of trustee — specifically in knowing how to listen.

“I have worked at almost all the events in that time, talking to people, hearing what’s going on in the village,” she said.

Her career also provides some relevant experience, she said. Her resume includes 13 years working in two Chicago law firms as a legal assistant and practice support assistant. That experience taught her how to work as part of a team to “get the job done.”

Currently, she works as a real estate agent.

“I see lots of young families moving to Homewood,” she said, and her job gives her a chance to listen to many people who are interested in moving to the village.

Attracting young families is a village priority. It’s the focus of a recently launched marketing campaign, “Think Homewood,” and that is a trend Roman hopes will continue. She said she hopes to be “a voice for our generation” on the board.

She also hopes to provide continuity, contributing to the village’s pro-business environment.

Regarding the controversial home rule question that was defeated in the March 20 election, Roman said she supported the measure.

“I was a supporter of home rule, but I do understand why the majority of residents voted against it,” she said.

Hofeld has made several appointments in his two decades as mayor.* He said he looks for someone with experience serving the village. The most recent appointments were Larry Burnson, who replaced Ray Robertson in 2016 shortly after he retired as Homewood police chief, and Karen Washington, who was serving as village clerk at the time, who replaced Tom Kataras after he resigned in 2014.

Roman and her husband have two children.


* The first version of this story incorrectly stated that Hofeld had made three appointments. 

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