Libertyville Area Moms loves sharing about people in our community. This week, we are sharing an important leader in our community, Mayor Donna Johnson. Learn more about Mayor Johnson from our Q+A.
Please note: This article is not intended as an endorsement, but as an entertainment piece. If you would like to learn how to be featured, please email [email protected].
Hello! Please introduce yourself.
I am the current Mayor of Libertyville seeking re-election in the non-partisan April 1, 2025 election, because I believe in a life of service, as demonstrated through my extensive community involvement. I am a woman with strong family values who has lived in Libertyville for over 40 years, my family and I are deeply connected to the traditions and culture that make this town special. I have 32 years of experience working as an attorney for a Fortune 100 Company, which has given me a deep understanding of budgets and business economics. My experience with counseling multiple business clients on negotiating business transaction and maintaining balanced budgets has provided me with the skills needed to promote and support economic growth and development in Libertyville.
Where are you from and how long have you lived in town?
I have lived in Libertyville for over 40 years and a daughter of parents who lived in Libertyville for 46 years. I appreciate the communities values and the importance of quality schools and senior services. I am a 30 plus year member of the Proclaimer Ministry at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. I have served and been elected Senior Village Trustee for 4 terms and served as Assistant State’s Attorney for both Lake and Cook Counties.
Do you have children?
I am a parent who raised two successful children in this community, a son and a daughter who engaged in dance, arts, swimming at Adler and sports.
What are your favorite things to do in the area?
My favorite things to do in the area include volunteering with Seniors and the St. Jospeh’s Food Pantry, along with Pilates and working out at the Exercise Coach. I also enjoy participating in the Police National Night Out in August, the Libertyville Fire Department Open House in October, Libertyville Days, Dogs Days of Summer, speaking to young students at our local schools, and sampling local cuisine at Lunch in the Cook Park and at the Thursday’s Farmer’s Market.
Can you share your TOP 5 favorite local businesses?
I love all of our local businesses in our downtown area, on south Milwaukee, and the 137 strip. Some of the shops I frequent are My Sanctuary, Allure, and Charles and Minerva. I also enjoy breakfast at Wildberry, Anam Cara, Wicked Egg and dining at Shakou, Mixto Cuisine, Firkin, Mickey Finn’s, Morgan’s, Austin’s, Main Street Social, Dos Amigos, and Bottaio’s.
What is your favorite event in Libertyville?
Again, I enjoy Libertyville Days, Memorial Day Ceremony at Cook Park, Wine About Winter, Second City Rotary event and Dog Days of Summer.
What inspires you?
I am inspired by the wonderful example set by my mother who balanced being a successful career professional in a male dominated career, while raising two successful children and being a supportive spouse during the challenges of the Civil Rights Era.
What are your favorite places to travel near and far and why?
One of my favorite places to travel is New York City, which is rich in culture and stage drama, along with scenic places to travel in upper state New York. I also enjoy traveling to Italy because of the food and the culture. My favorite cities to visit were Rome and touring the Vatican, Milan for the fashion museum, and Florence. The homemade pasta is incredible and the gelato is my favorite desert.
What does your typical day look like?
My typical day involves waking up to prayer and reflection, exercise, review of emails, review and prepare for meetings and connecting with both my children. Attending live meetings at Village Hall and also scheduled meetings off-site.
Metropolitan Mayors Caucus
What do you do in your position?
I am the current Mayor of Libertyville and a former elected Trustee that served for 4 terms that has me actively involved in Libertyville, earning the trust and experience needed to effectively serve our community. I am also a retired Corporate Counsel from a Fortune 100 Company that successfully served and advised multiple business lines.
Why do you love your job?
I love my job because it allows me to engage with the public and to help support a thriving business community to support our local economy. I enjoy that this opportunity allows me to channel my talents and prior professional training in service to my community. I also love working with our veterans at the local VFW Post and to work with people like Don Carter on our Memorial Day ceremony honoring our veterans.
What is favorite memory growing up in Libertyville?
My favorite memory is shopping at Langworthy clothing store downtown and Arden’s furniture store. I also enjoyed Dean Larson’s stories about Libertyville history and that the current Village Hall used to be a Fire Station.
What are you most excited about for the future of our community?
I am excited that we still have restaurants and retail stores that survived the impact of COVID-19. I am happy that we have a thriving senior community supported by an active senior group at the Civic Center. I am excited that in spite of inflation our community has been good stewards of our Village Budget and taxpayer dollars. This is important as we live in a state where our State Budget is facing a 3.2 billion dollar deficit that effects all of us.
Please share two fun facts about yourself.
I enjoy Comedy as an outlet. I dated a famous celebrity in college.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
Do not engage with people who misrepresent facts to gain trust.
Are you involved in any volunteering or philanthropy? Do you have a favorite local non-profit or charity?
I am involved in two service organizations like Delta Sigma Theta and The Links Incorporated that provide Services to Youth, Health Fairs on Diabetes and Heart Health for Women, along with volunteering at the Food Pantry.
Can you share with us a past or present struggle in your personal or professional life? Please also share how you overcame it or cope with it (or plan to)?
I became a professional during times when the practice of law, was a male dominated profession and there was no such thing as work life balance for working mothers. I was able to survive and succeed through my faith and prayer, through the support of my parents who were my back-up and because of my female network of friends who were going through the same thing in different professions. I call it the power of the sisterhood.
Anything else you would like to share?
It was important to me that I utilize my professional skills in retirement to give back and be of service to my community.