Campaign quiet, but family says Lake Co. board hopeful will be back

She has a website announcing her campaign, a phone number people can call to donate, and a list of issues she is looking to address when running for Lake County Board District 19.

But, since her announcement in November 2009, it seems Lake County Board District 19 candidate Roberta Potempa has put her campaign on hiatus.

One of her campaign volunteers announced Potempa has suspended her campaign against Craig Taylor because she has been caring for a sick relative.

"I haven't heard from her in a couple of months," said Kevin Fanning, who wrote her campaign announcement at potempaforboard.com. "Last I heard, she was tending to a sick relative and would need to suspend her campaign."

However, Lake County Democratic officials said Potempa is still running, but only needed some time to take care of a sick family member.

Potempa, a Democrat and small business owner, is facing the Republican Taylor on Nov. 2.

Taylor is the current board member, appointed to the seat when former Dist. 19 board member Michael Talbett stepped down.

Lake County Board District 19 covers most of Lake Zurich and Kildeer, as well as portions of Long Grove and Hawthorn Woods.

In addition to the suspension statement by her chief campaign volunteer, the phone number listed on her website have been disconnected, and e-mails sent through her website have not been answered.

Potempa also has not returned numerous phone calls to her Kildeer home seeking comment, and has not filed biographies and questionnaires for the Daily Herald that most candidates complete when running for office.

"I have also heard she stopped her campaign," her opponent Taylor said earlier this week. "But, I'm not going to take anything for granted. I will continue to fight until the votes are counted on Nov. 2."

However, state Senator Terry Link, a Waukegan Democrat and head of the Lake County Democratic Party, said he spoke with family members of Potempa - not the candidate herself - and they assured him Potempa remains in the race.

"They said she did need to tend to some family medical issues, but said she was still involved," Link said.

In the meantime, Taylor said he has been out for two or three hours a day trying to get his message across to voters.

"The campaign is going well. I'm out seven days a week, speaking with people and trying to be positive," he said. "I'm really not counting on anything until its decided at the last second, but it would help if I knew she were dropping out. Campaigns are expensive and it would save me a lot of money."