After years of controversy, Cook Library has quieted down

For the first time in nearly a decade, the upcoming Cook Memorial Public Library board election won't be contested.

Five seats will be included on the April 5, 2011 ballot for the Libertyville-based district, and exactly five candidates have applied for the jobs.

The last time voters in this once-notoriously controversial district faced an uncontested race was 2001, when only two candidates were on the ballot for three seats.

Board President Bonnie Quirke called the lack of a contest “unbelievable.” But Quirke — one of the candidates who will appear on the 2011 ballot — also believes she knows why the race isn't more crowded.

“It's a tribute to the board's clear vision,” she said. “It's been a rocky ride, and it would have been easy to jump ship, but we had a vision. Everybody saw the goal... and we worked to achieve it.”

That goal was the long-discussed expansion of the main library at Libertyville's Cook Park and the construction of a new library in Vernon Hills. The Vernon Hills library opened this summer, and the revamped Cook Park facility is expected to open early next month.

The board, working with former Director Dan Armstrong and current Director Stephen Kershner, developed and implemented a $14 million expansion plan that didn't raise taxes and didn't require a voter referendum, unlike the multiple expansion proposals previous boards had put forth.

The lack of organized opposition candidates means people are satisfied with the projects and the quality of Cook Memorial's services, Quirke said.

“A new library in Vernon Hills is what the people wanted,” she said. “Expansion in Cook (Park) is what people wanted.”

Four seats with 4-year terms will be on the April ballot. The candidates for those posts are incumbents Wendy Vieth, Nathan Johnson and Tom Milowski; and newcomer Marti Gorun.

Veteran board member Karen Broms isn't running, leaving room for Gorun to succeed her.

One seat with a 2-year term also will be filled. Quirke is running for that post.

The last four elections all featured contested races for the Cook Memorial board.

In 2009, four candidates ran for three seats. In 2007, seven hopefuls ran for four seats.

In 2005, six candidates ran for three seats. And in 2003, seven candidates ran for two full terms.

Jack. L. Martin, a Libertyville resident and well-known area political activist, led or organized Cook Memorial opposition groups in the 1990s and 2000s. He was elected to the board once, to a 2-year term in 2003.

No opposition slates formed for the 2011 election because the fight over potential construction is over, Martin said.

“There's no big controversy,” he said. “I'm enjoying my retirement.”

Without naming Martin, Quirke acknowledged the political climate has changed in the district since she was first elected in 2003.

“At that time, there was a certain group in Libertyville that liked to stir the waters of discontent, so to speak,” Quirke said. “And at the time, people did not realize the great value that libraries have.”

They do now, she said — especially since the economy tanked, a situation that has led to growth in library circulation figures and demand for services.

Despite financial struggles that have led to reduce funding for libraries across Illinois, Cook Memorial patrons have seen services — and facilities — expand, Quirke said.

“People see that the library is a major community center,” she said.