Competition for Geneva, South Elgin, Lake in the Hills, Aurora top spots
Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns and Alderman Tom Simonian made it official Monday: Burns wants to keep the post, and Simonian wants to take it away from him.
In Batavia, Jason Stoops signed up to challenge nine-term Mayor Jeff Schielke, who announced Monday he intends to seek a 10th term.
And as of late Monday afternoon, nobody had submitted paperwork to challenge St. Charles Mayor Ray Rogina, who filed his petition for re-election. Several other incumbent mayors and challengers in the Fox Valley area declared their intention to run in the April 4 election. Here's a town-by-town look at filings, which end next Monday, Dec. 19:
Algonquin
Village President John Schmitt filed for re-election Monday with no challengers so far. Incumbent trustees Brian Dianis, Robert Smith and Jerrold Glogowski filed, along with challenger Laura Brehmer, for three seats on the board.
Batavia
In addition to Stoops taking on Schielke, one of the longest-tenured mayors in the state, Second Ward Alderman Marty Callahan filed for re-election, as did 7th Ward Alderman Drew McFadden. Newly appointed 3rd Ward Alderman Elliot Meitzler submitted his nomination, and Mark Uher filed petitions to be elected 5th Ward alderman. Schielke intends to file later.
Elburn
Trustees Jeff Walter and David Gualdoni submitted petitions to run for village president.
Fox River Grove
Village President Robert Nunamaker and incumbent trustees Thomas Anderson and Andrew Migdal filed for re-election.
Geneva
Simonian recently called Burns a "career politician" who puts city employees' wants ahead of residents' welfare. Burns has been mayor since 2001.
Burns, however, has said that Simonian's remarks about employee benefits, labor contracts and more have demoralized city workers. Burns said last week he was proud of his record, and said his success was due in part to "mutual respect for all stakeholders."
Also submitting paperwork for re-election were incumbent aldermen Mike Bruno (1st Ward), Richard Marks (2nd Ward), Mary Seno (3rd Ward) and Ron Singer (4th Ward.)
Marks will face Michael Clements, who also turned in his petitions.
Nobody filed for the 5th Ward seat held by Simonian, nor for treasurer or clerk.
Gilberts
Three candidates filed nominating petitions Monday morning to run for three open trustee seats in Gilberts - incumbents Nancy Farrell and David LeClercq Sr., and resident Jeanne Allen. Also on the ballot will be the seat held by Trustee Guy Zambetti. Village President Rick Zirk also filed for re-election with no challengers so far.
Huntley
Incumbent trustees John Piwko, J.R. Westberg, and Ronda Goldman filed for re-election with no challengers thus far.
Lake in the Hills
Village President Paul Mulcahy is being challenged by Trustee Russ Ruzanski to lead the village for the next four years. Three trustee candidates also filed Monday - Bill Dustin, incumbent Robert Huckins and Thaddeus T. Lewis III.
Pingree Grove
Residents Raul Lemus and Amber Kubiak filed nominating petitions Monday morning to run for trustee. Seats held by trustees Chuck Pearson, Ray LaMarca and Nick Campbell will be on the ballot.
South Elgin
Residents can expect to have a choice between at least two people for village president - longtime Trustee Lisa Guess and Village President Steve Ward - who filed Monday.
Also, trustees Jennifer Barconi, Greg Lieser and John Sweet filed Monday, along with Village Clerk Margo Gray.
Guess, who is serving her fourth term on the board, has two years left on her term.
Ward was elected in April 2015 after he was appointed in November 2013 following the death of the then-village president. He had served as trustee since 2001.
Ward said he wants to continue to encourage multifamily housing development along the Fox River, work with the Illinois Department of Transportation to widen McLean Boulevard from Spring Street to Stearns Road, and continue to beautify Route 31.
Guess said she has concerns about plans for development along the river. "I want to work to preserve our riverfront that we have there now," she said.
Sugar Grove
Sean Michels filed a petition Monday seeking his fifth term as village president.
Trustees Ted Koch and Rick Montalto filed for election to 4-year seats, as did Alison Squires and Karen McCannon. Three seats are available.
St. Charles
Mayor Ray Rogina officially began his quest for a second 4-year term. As of the end of the day Monday, Rogina stood unchallenged in that quest. But there are at least two opportunities for new representation in St. Charles among the five aldermanic seats on the April ballot.
Ward 2 incumbent Art Lemke filed for re-election, but he was joined by challenger Ryan S. Bongard. In Ward 4, two new faces filed to replace Alderman Jo Krieger, who put in paperwork to run for city treasurer. Potentially taking Krieger's spot on the city council are David Pietryla and Lora A. Vitek. Three other incumbent aldermen also filed for re-election who are so far unchallenged: Ron Silkaitis in Ward 1, William Turner in Ward 3 and Maureen Lewis in Ward 5.
Elsewhere
Incumbents Mark Grosso and Leslie Juby, both of Geneva, filed their petitions for re-election to the Geneva school board. Taylor Egan of Geneva also filed.
Zac Craft and Mark Adams, both of Geneva, submitted their petitions for re-election to the Geneva Public Library board.
• Staff writers Elena Ferrarin, James Fuller and Madhu Krishnamurthy contributed to this story.