John Korn named Mt. Prospect board's new mayor pro tem

Mount Prospect Trustee A. John Korn is the new second-in-command for the village board.

Korn was chosen Tuesday night as the new mayor pro tem. If Mayor Irvana Wilks is out of town, can't make a meeting or leaves her post, Korn would be in charge, village officials said.

The term lasts one year, but Korn's term will last a little bit longer since he is taking the place of former Trustee Richard M. Lohrstorfer, who resigned from the board for personal reasons.

Korn's term as mayor pro tem begins immediately and continues to June 30, 2009, village officials said.

Korn was appointed to the board in 2005. He's a barber by profession and has lived in the village since 1968, village officials said.

"He is Mr. Mount Prospect," Wilks said of Korn. "As a barber, he takes the pulse of the village from his barber chair."

The position used to be more fluid, with a new mayor pro tem elected at the beginning of each committee of the whole meeting. But after Sept. 11, villages were advised to make a more permanent selection, so the year-long term was implemented in the village, Wilks said.

Lohrstorfer, who served on the board for the past 11 years, resigned earlier this month.

An appointee will serve out Lohrstorfer's term, which expires in April 2009. Wilks will appoint a new trustee with the board's approval.

Lohrstorfer was first elected to the board in 1997. In 2001 and 2005, he was re-elected to 4-year terms. The person who is appointed would serve out his term and have the opportunity to run for the board in April.