Grayslake trustee captures Lake County Board seat

Grayslake Trustee Jeff Werfel is moving up the political ladder.

Werfel, a Republican, topped Democrat John Wylie for a Lake County Board seat in Tuesday's election.

With all 26 precincts counted, unofficial totals show Werfel garnered 5,136 votes to Wylie's 3,701. Late arriving vote by mail and provisional ballots are not included.

"I'm excited and, as always, humbled just by folks supporting me and putting me in a position like this," Werfel said.

Wylie and Werfel, who live in the same Prairie Crossing subdivision in Grayslake and have a history of community involvement, were competing for the county board District 6 seat being vacated by retiring Democrat Pat Carey of Grayslake. District 6 includes Grayslake and Hainesville, along with portions of Round Lake Park and Round Lake Beach.

Werfel said his village government experience is one reason he was more qualified for a county board seat than Wylie. He said he wants to bring what he's learned in Grayslake to the county board with a solid, "best practice" management style and common-sense governing.

"Like any new job, there is a learning curve," Werfel said.

Wylie said skills he's honed over 30 years as an attorney would be transferrable to a seat on the county board. As a plaintiff's lawyer in civil litigation, he said he's drafted settlement agreements more complicated than any local ordinances.

Werfel said his top issues include responsibly managing Lake County's budget and overall finances while continuing to provide high-quality service.

Elected as a Grayslake village board trustee in 2003, Werfel also has been involved with Conserve Lake County, an organization that initiates land stewardship projects in an effort to revive prairies, wetlands and woodlands.