New names, familiar faces enter races on first day of filing in Fox Valley
On the eve of President-elect Barack Obama's rise to the pinnacle of his political career, dozens of local residents officially launched political endeavors of their own.
Monday was the first to file nominating petitions for candidacy in the April 7 election for many municipal boards.
Though the final makeup of ballots will not be known until after the close of business Monday, Jan 26 - the last opportunity to file - Monday's filings did offer a sense of how some races might look.
The most hotly contested race in the northern Fox Valley area this spring is expected to be for Carpentersville village president. Incumbent Bill Sarto filed his petition to retain his seat for another 4 years, while Trustee Ed Ritter submitted his signatures in hopes of unseating Sarto. Though another potential candidate, local business owner Jim Krenz, publicly announced his intention to run for village president, he did not file a petition Monday.
So far, three candidates have applied for the three open trustee positions on Carpentersville's board - incumbent Kay Teeter and Joe Haimann and Patricia Schultz. The 4-year terms of Ritter, Teeter and Linda Ramirez-Sliwinski expire in April.
West Dundee
Incumbents filed their petitions Monday in West Dundee. So far, no challenger has emerged for Village President Larry Keller, who is seeking his third full term at the helm. In the race for three trustee seats, incumbents Patrick Hanley and Norm Osth filed petitions. The seat of Trustee Joseph Motyl is also up for re-election but Motyl has yet to announce whether he'll run. Motyl was appointed to the board in February 2008 to replace John Mayer, who resigned in December 2007.
South Elgin
Incumbents also are ahead of the game in South Elgin where three current board members filed petitions Monday. Village President Jim Hansen will run for re-election, as will trustees Scott Richman and John Sweet. There are three trustees seats available, as well as that of village clerk.
Gilberts
Barring ballot challenges, it looks like we have a mayor's race in Gilberts. Village President Tom Wajda and resident Rick Zirk both filed Monday for the village's top spot. Incumbent trustees Gordon Mueller and Guy Zambetti will be joined on the ballot by resident Nancy Farrell. There are three trustee seats up for election.
Cary
There is already a contested race for the Cary village board, with four candidates vying for three open seats. Incumbents Steve Adams and Duane "Rick" Dudek face challenges from Frank O'Laughlin and Robert Bragg, husband of Village Clerk Nancy Bragg, who is also seeking re-election. Mayor Steve Lamal is up for re-election but had not filed to get on the April ballot as of Monday morning.
Pingree Grove
Four names emerged Monday in the chase for three, 4-year trustee seats in Pingree Grove. Incumbents Richard Stramaglia, Ricky Popilek and Greg Marston all filed petitions Monday, as did Joshua Cossiboon, currently a member of the village's planning and zoning commission. Plan commission member Charles Jackson, who filed to run for trustee two years ago but whose petitions were challenged, has filed for the two-year trustee seat.
Sleepy Hollow
The lone petitioner on Monday in Sleepy Hollow was Village President Stephen Pickett. So far, no candidates have filed for the three trustee positions or the village clerk post that are available.
Hampshire
So far, only one person has filed for a seat on the Hampshire village board: Trustee George Brust.
Village President Jeff Magnussen and trustees Karyn Danielson and Marty Ebert are also up for re-election. Magnussen and Ebert are among the 10 who have taken out nominating petitions from the village; Danielson is not, according to Village Clerk Linda Vasquez.
Lake in the Hills
In Lake in the Hills, the village president's seat, three trustee positions and the village clerk's post are up for re-election.
As of Monday afternoon, longtime Village President Ed Plaza had filed for another term. So too did Village Clerk Denise Wasserman and Trustee Robert Huckins. One newcomer, Denise Barreto, will run for trustee.
Filing begins Tuesday in other towns, including East Dundee and Fox River Grove, school districts and other bodies that were closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Staff Writers Jameel Naqvi and Kerry Lester contributed to this report.