Two incumbents, two newcomers get Democratic nod in water district races

Two incumbents and two newcomers on Tuesday received the Democratic nomination for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago board.

According to unofficial results, Barbara McGowan, Mariyana Spyropoulos and Josina Morita earned the most votes in the race for a 6-year seat, while Martin Durkan was the top vote-getter in the race for a 2-year position.

With 98 percent of precincts reporting, the vote totals show McGowan with 24 percent, Spyropoulos with 20 percent, Morita with 18 percent, followed by Joseph Cook with 15 percent, Kevin McDevitt with 14 percent, and Cary Capparelli with 8 percent. In the 2-year race, Durkan had 39 percent, followed by Tom Greenhaw with 34 percent and Andrew Seo with 27 percent.

Those who are elected in the November general election will oversee an agency responsible for treatment of one billion gallons of water a day, as well as flood mitigation projects in Cook County.

McGowan, a commissioner since 1998 who is the board's vice president, touted a voluntary flood-prone home buyout program as one of the district's best responses to flooding. Spyropoulos, a commissioner since 2009 who is the board's president, said she wants to continue to implement initiatives such as disinfecting water at the district's plants, making sure the facilities run self-sufficiently, and generating revenue. Morita, an urban planner and member of the Skokie plan commission, proposes making it easier for residents to recycle water within their own homes.

Durkan, a business representative with International Union Of Operating Engineers Local 150, said he has worked in infrastructure for more than 25 years and wants to bring his hands-on experience to the board.

McGowan, Spyropoulos and Morita will face three Green Party candidates - Karen Roothaan, George Milkowski and Michael Smith - in the November general election. Durkan will face Republican Herb Schumann for the 2-year spot.