Wiedmeyer ahead by one vote in Pingree Grove

Pingree Grove residents will have to wait a little longer to know the winner in a tight village board race.

Incumbent village board member Steve Wiedmeyer appears to have edged out challenger Lon Czarnecki, 45, by an unofficial count of 123-122.

Czarnecki told the Daily Herald he does not intend on conceding the election and he said he will look into what it takes to get a recount.

“There could be any sort of error for one vote to be the difference,” Czarnecki said late Tuesday night. “It is just too close; I have to find out for sure for peace of mind.

Barring a change in the final count, it was a good night for both of the incumbents. Along with Wiedmeyer, who has served since 1996, incumbent board member Ray LaMarca, 40, who was appointed in 2011, retained his spot, receiving 253 votes.

LaMarca, a systems engineer manager, told the Daily Herald he thought the close turnout reflected the quality of all eight candidates.

“A lot of the candidates had really good ideas,” LaMarca said, citing campaign trail discussions of new village organizations like a chamber of commerce or small business alliance as examples.

Also winning a spot Tuesday was Charles Pearson, 64, who received 135 votes.

“We are a growing community that has a lot of choices to be made,” said Pearson, a retired systems software analyst. “I am looking forward to the challenge.”

Eight candidates ran for three spots on the Pingree Grove village board.