Residents' Voice party takes 2 Bensenville board seats

Political newcomers Frank DeSimone and Rosa M. Carmona of the Residents' Voice Party are joining incumbent JoEllen Ridder on the Bensenville Village Board.

With all 14 precincts reporting, unofficial results show DeSimone with 772 votes, Carmona with 743 and Ridder with 733.

DeSimone, a 41-year-old police detective and the race's highest vote-getter, said the election was a referendum on the village's status quo.

"We worked hard, walking the streets every day," DeSimone said Tuesday night. "People are tired of what's going on in our village. They're tired of being lied to and they're tired of not being heard. The people spoke tonight, and it was great to give them the final voice."

Carmona, a 43-year-old patient coordinator, called the race a "David-against-Goliath scenario."

"Our walking and hard work paid off," she said. "Moving forward, the residents can expect commitment and (an) ear that is listening to them. Their support won't be let down."

Ridder, the lone incumbent to retain her seat, is not confident the race is over, saying she believes there are enough absentee votes still uncounted to sway the race for her slate, which also included incumbent Robert Jarecki, who received 713 votes, and newcomer Luis Tellez, with 664 votes. Jarecki, a 63-year-old retired Bensenville Park District employee, was the only incumbent to lose his seat.

DeSimone and Carmona's slate also included newcomer Agnieszka Jaworska, who received 724 votes.