Hainesville man trying to score political hat trick

Former Avon Township trustee Timothy Powell is pursuing what would become a political hat trick in the April 5 election.

Powell is on the ballot for a 4-year seat on the Hainesville village board and a 6-year post on the Grayslake Area Public Library board. He already is a Lake County Board-appointed Avon-Fremont Drainage District commissioner.

If elected to the village and library boards, that would make Powell a representative of three taxing agencies, the political equivalent of a hat trick — a hockey term used when a player scores three goals in a game.

Powell said time won't be a problem because he's a retired Lake County sheriff's deputy.

He discussed seeking the two elected offices in the April election during a Daily Herald editorial board endorsement interview Thursday.

State law allows someone to hold an elected library and village office simultaneously.

“The theory there is, number-one, there never has been an individual from the village of Hainesville that has been positioned on the Grayslake Area Public Library board,” Powell said. “And I felt this time, I think there should be a (village) representative on that board, as well as a representative from my family on the Hainesville village board.”

Powell's mother, Edythe, who died at age 91 last week, served as Hainesville's clerk, trustee and treasurer. His late-father, Edward, was a Hainesville trustee and deceased uncle Lyle Loftus was a mayor in that town.

Four candidates are seeking three trustee seats in Hainesville. Trustees Kevin Barrett and Gary Walkington are on the ballot with Walter Kriese and Powell.

Three candidates are vying for two posts on the Grayslake Area Public Library board. Voters will select from Trustee Kent Rich, Powell and Hal Sloan.

Lake County Board members appointed Powell as an Avon-Fremont Drainage District commissioner in 2009. That same year, Powell lost his Avon Township trustee seat when he ran on a slate headed by former supervisor Shirley Christian.