Deb Frank Feinen has been a proud resident of Champaign for more than forty-five years. Deb lives in Champaign with her husband, Chuck, and two children, Karlee and Catherine. A few of her hobbies include running, horseback riding, and photography. She has a passion to serve her community and to make Champaign a great place to live, work, play and stay. “Mayor of Champaign and Downstate Operations Vice President for Attorneys Title Guarantee. I am a mom and a Townie, wife.”
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What inspired you to your current career? | Politically was my mom, she was the Circuit Clerk in Champaign County for 28 years, as well as a county board member. I grew up believing that one way to give back to your community was through government work. |
| Tell me a little bit more of your role as Mayor and Ops Vice President? | Mayor in the City of Champaign is like being first among equals. 5 votes to get anything done and have a amazing City Manager who runs the day to day of the city. I have a lot of influence because I am the mayor and I use that influence for things that are important. With the City manager running the day to day operations of the city, I can also have a career outside of public office. I have been an attorney in Champaign for more than 15 years, doing a lot of real estate transactions. The job opened and it was a great opportunity to continue to be involved in real estate, seeing all of my realtor and lawyer friends and continue to see the people in the community. |
| How long have you lived in Champaign-Urbana? | Grew up here. Went away to college and Law School, and came back to U of I for my last year of law school. Stayed ever since! |
| What is the most interesting person you have met here in Champaign-Urbana? | I have been touched and change by people that are different from me. As mayor, I have had this opportunity to meet people that I would never have known. It is easy to stay within your sphere. Get into your car from the garage and never even speak to your neighbor as you drive to work. But I get the opportunity to be at a lot of community events, and I get to meet one on one with people that I might have never known. At the US conference of Mayors, I got to meet the Dalai Lama. |
| If you could travel anywhere in the world today, where and why? | Galápagos Islands . I want to see the beauty there. |
| What advice you would give to a group of people during a speech? | Do more listening than talking and always be kind. You can take a position and be a zealous advocate, but you can still be kind about it. |
| What is on your bucket list? | More Travel! |
| Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years | I will have a college graduate and our lives will be changing dramatically. I don’t know if I will run again for another term. I have taken each term as a term at a time. Am I relevant? Are we getting things done? Does it make sense for my family? I hopefully I will still be here at Attorneys Title. |
| What interesting fact about Deb Frank Feinen that many people may not know? | I was a radio DJ in college. I had to take the FCC licensing to be on air. |
| What three words or phrases when I say home? | Champaign. Family. Relaxation but Champaign is home. |
| If you had a full time staff member fully paid for, how would you choose? Chef, Housekeeper, Driver, Coach. Physical fitness trainer or nanny. | I think I would pick a physical fitness trainer. |
