Larson uncontested for 8th term as Schaumburg mayor

The name of the Palatine District 3 candidate was misspelled in the original story. His correct name is Doug Myslinski.

With no opponent having materialized by 5 p.m. Monday, Schaumburg Mayor Al Larson has effectively won his eighth consecutive term.

But it will take until Election Day, April 7, for him to know the exact makeup of his village board.

Monday afternoon was the close of filing for municipal offices in Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates and Palatine - three towns that file earlier than everyone else because they operate on a primary system. Not enough candidates filed to force a primary in any of the towns.

In Schaumburg, Jim Moynihan, who ran and lost for a seat in the Illinois legislature early this month, has filed to run for one of three available seats on the village board.

Current trustees Tom Dailly, George Dunham and Mark Madej also have filed to run for re-election - so, barring any successful challenges to any of the petitions, four candidates will run for the three seats.

As the filing period closed Monday, Larson expressed gratitude for the public's trust in his leadership.

"I would like to thank all those people out there in the community who feel I can do another term," Larson said. "There's a lot of work that still needs to be done, though that sounds like a cliché, including a lot of development projects."

He said he strongly backs Dailly, Dunham and Madej for re-election.

"They certainly have proved they have the background, experience and knowledge to be productive members of the village board," Larson said. "Someone who has done a superb job deserves to be rewarded for doing a superb job. I served 12 years as a village trustee myself before being elected mayor. I know the amount of work involved."

Moynihan said he's not running to criticize any individual, but is looking for a way to pursue his political agenda - including a pursuit of lower taxes - at a more local level. But he admitted he may try again for the state legislature in two years.

"If I run for (trustee) and I win it, I intend to be there all four years," Moynihan said of the pending trustee race. "But I don't have a crystal ball. I'm not ruling anything out. But I honestly haven't made a decision to do anything else in two years."

Schaumburg Village Clerk Marilyn Karr also filed for re-election but will have no opponent.

Hoffman Estates

Former trustee Cary Collins has filed for village board, as has resident Prajesh "Pat" Patel. Both filed their petitions on Monday, bringing the number of candidates for the village board to five. Three seats are open, and incumbents Anna Newell, Gary Pilafas and Gary Stanton have all filed for re-election. Mayor William McLeod is in the middle of his term and not up for election in 2015.

Palatine

District 2 Councilman Scott Lamerand, District 5 Councilman Kollin Kozlowski and resident Doug Myslinski will all run unopposed for the three open seats on the village council.

Myslinski, a golf course designer and member of the Palatine zoning board of appeals, said although he does not have an opponent he will introduce himself to residents of his district.

Jim Clegg, who last represented District 3 on the Palatine council, is moving out of the village and resigned his seat last week.

"I look forward to filling where Mr. Clegg left off," Myslinski said Monday. "He did a wonderful job for us in the years he was there and I look forward to carrying on his diligent work."

Myslinski will have to vacate the ZBA after the election.

Residents can apply to be write-in candidates up to 61 days before the April 7 election.