Trustee confirms he will run for mayor in Fox Lake
The worst-kept political secret in Fox Lake is finally officially out.
Fox Lake Trustee Ed Bender has announced he will run for mayor in the spring of 2009.
"I have deep concern for the financial health of our town, and the lack of business growth in the past three-and-a-half years," Bender said Wednesday. "What is desperately needed at this time is leadership at the very top, and I feel I can provide that."
Bender will face off against incumbent Cindy Irwin for the top village position. Irwin announced last winter she would seek another term as mayor.
Bender also was expected to run against former mayor Dr. William Dam, but Dam recently dropped out of the race due to personal reasons.
Bender was elected trustee in 2001, running on a slate with former mayor and current Trustee Nancy Koske. Also on the ticket were former trustees Floyd Edwards and John Allsot.
In 2005, Bender received the most votes in the municipal election, while the rest of his slate was not re-elected to their positions. Irwin beat out Koske, while sitting trustees Noel Working and Carol Ulasy beat out Allsot and appointed trustee Terri Zawada, who took over for Edwards in 2004.
Bender said he has 35 years of corporate experience working as a vice president for Grainger Lake Forest. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from DePaul University in 1980 and from Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1989.
Bender is running with a slate of political newcomers. Kevin Burt is a 38-year resident of Fox Lake and member of the village zoning board, but has lost two previous trustee elections, in 2005 and 2007. Valerie Griseta is a two-year resident and member of the village planning board, and Jon Mumford is a 10-year resident of Fox Lake and is a lieutenant on the Fox Lake Fire Department.
Current clerk Samantha Weeks is also running on the slate. Weeks was appointed to the position by Irwin after former clerk Nancy Rogers took over as the full-time park and recreation coordinator. She officially won election to the seat two years ago against Karla-Jean Zander.