Maine an easy winner in Lake County Board District 21 GOP primary

Lincolnshire resident Ann Maine on Tuesday easily withstood her first political challenge since being elected 10 years ago to represent the 21st District on the Lake County.

With all 27 precincts reporting, unofficial results showed an overwhelming victory for Maine with 2,429 votes, well ahead of challengers Douglas Bennett of Deerfield, with 660, and Robert Haraden of unincorporated Libertyville with 450.

Maine, 52, a senior lecturer in biology at Lake Forest College, credited her energy, accomplishments and accessibility to residents for her support at the ballot box in the redrawn district that added areas near Libertyville, Warren Township and Deerfield.

“I do put a lot of time into it,” she said. “It’s a very aware district.”

Maine said she knocked on doors in every precinct.

Maine has served as president of the Lake County Forest Preserve District board since 2010 and has been involved in several high-profile issues, such as a recycling task force and water supply advisory committee. County board members double as forest preserve commissioners.

“It was a good opportunity to talk with people about what their government is doing for them,” she said.

Neither Bennett, 49, a computer consultant from Deerfield, nor Haraden, 50, a dentist, had previous political experience.

Maine will face Democrat Arlene Hickory, a retired nurse from Lake Bluff, in the November general election.

District 21 includes Riverwoods, Mettawa, Lincolnshire, Green Oaks, Bannockburn and portions of Deerfield, Gurnee, Lake Forest and Waukegan.