Ruminski, Anastasio, Tigges come out on top in Wayne

Editor’s note: Story was updated April 10 to reflect accurate vote totals and the winners of this race, which were incorrect in an earlier version.

The five-way race for three 4-year trustee positions on the Wayne village board was exceedingly tight, but in the end a newcomer and two incumbents prevailed, according to unofficial results Wednesday.

The top vote-getter with 257 votes was Richard Ruminski, a retired FBI agent who moved back to Wayne within the past few years after time working out of state. Ruminski, a political newcomer, could not be reached for comment late Tuesday.

Incumbents Michael Anastasio and Ann Marie Tigges finished second and third, with 236 and 202 votes, respectively.

Tigges, who beat incumbent Howard Levine by 3 votes, was the only candidate who took what many would perceive as an unpopular stance by openly supporting an increase in the village’s tax rate.

Newcomer James Morris finished fifth with 144 votes in Kane and DuPage counties.

“I am really shocked. I would have thought that I would have been the most unpopular candidate for talking about a tax increase,” Tigges admitted Tuesday night. “But the villagers are practical people who appreciate straight talk about what our future needs will probably be. So, I guess that speaking my mind about an unpopular point of view resonated with them.

“I am always honored to represent the villagers and appreciate the opportunity to serve them,” she added.

The three incumbents said during the campaign that the board had done a good job maintaining finances despite the village not having a sales tax base or commercial base from which to levy taxes.

Tigges’ support for an increase in the village’s tax rate said the extra money would help the village with road maintenance, police pensions and staff salaries.