These activists believed that Oak Park needed a change in local government structure if the village was to meet the challenges of the day successfully. Oak Park residents overwhelmingly approved the establishment of the village manager form of government. A village clerk is also elected.
Trustees serve four year staggered terms.
In 2001, the president, three trustees, and the village clerk will be elected. The VMA continues as a local, independent, non-partisan citizens' group and directs itself to the job of seeking highly qualified candidates for president, trustees, and the clerk of the village. This is done through a broadly based selection committee of volunteers representing all segments of the community who come together prior to each election to select a slate of candidates for the forthcoming village election. A separate campaign committee is then launched, establishing a political party to present issues and candidates to the voters. When the election is over, the party is dissolved.