Mayor races shaping up in Northwest suburbs
The nation is inaugurating a new president today, but in the Northwest suburbs, attention is already turning toward the next election, when many area mayors will be fighting to keep their jobs.
Based on those who submitted nominating papers Monday, contested mayoral races are shaping up in communities including Bartlett, Inverness, Prospect Heights, Hanover Park and Deer Park.
In Bartlett, longtime Village President Catherine Melchert did not file, but incumbent Village Trustee Sherry Bormann and Hanover Township Supervisor Michael E. Kelly did.
Likewise, sitting trustees in Hanover Park and Deer Park will also take on incumbent mayors in the April 7 local election.
Deer Park Trustee Bob Kellermann submitted the paperwork to try to unseat Village President Scott Gifford, who also filed Monday.
In Hanover Park, as expected, Trustee Lori Kaiser filed to run against Mayor Rodney Craig in what promises to be a contentious race.
In Inverness, three-term Village President John "Jack" Tatooles filed for re-election and will face a challenge from Nanci Staten Robinson.
Not a regular fixture at village board meetings, Robinson could not be reached for comment Monday about her interest in the job.
In Elk Grove Village, Barrington, South Barrington and Streamwood, all four incumbent mayors - Craig Johnson, Karen Darch, Frank Munao and Billie Roth, respectively - filed for re-election, with so far no challengers.
But Streamwood Trustee Jason Speer has said he will file later this week to challenge Roth, the longtime incumbent.
In Prospect Heights, the first day of filing yielded no surprises.
Alderman Dolores "Dolly" Vole and business owner and real estate developer Nicholas Helmer raced to file petitions for mayor, as earlier announced. Incumbent Pat Ludvigsen had already said he wouldn't run for the seat.
Because some village and city halls and other public offices were closed Monday for the Martin Luther King holiday, many communities, as well as school, park and library districts, begin filing today. The filing period ends Monday, Jan. 26.
• Staff Writers Madhu Krishnamurthy and Ashok Selvam contributed to this report.