8 vie to replace Connelly on DuPage board

Eight candidates have applied to fill the vacancy on the DuPage County Board created when Michael Connelly resigned to become a state representative.

Connelly had a little less than two years left on his term when he stepped down Jan. 14 to take office in Springfield. His seat is in District 5, which includes parts of Aurora, Naperville, Lisle and Warrenville.

County board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom initially had set a Jan. 23 deadline for applications, but has since extended it indefinitely. However, Schillerstrom has only 60 days from Connelly's resignation to fill the seat.

"You always hope more people will submit their names," said senior District 5 board member James Healy. "I'm glad to hear more people will now have the opportunity."

Absent from the list is former county board member Bob Heap, who once was considered a front-runner for the job.

Some board members were surprised former Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan's son, James M. Ryan, was not listed. The younger Ryan has been inquiring about support from current members, they said.

Two of the applicants have run for the county board in the past and two others recently ran for state representative seats. It's unclear what all the applicants' political affiliations are, but Schillerstrom said he will only appoint a Republican to fill the seat.

Here is a quick look at the eight candidates:

• Janice Anderson is a political newcomer who lives in Naperville.

• Michael Bowler lost the Republican nomination to Darlene Senger for the 96th District state representative seat last February.

• Dave Carlin lost the Republican nomination to Connelly for the 48th District state representative seat last February, but remains a College of DuPage trustee.

• Gerry Cassioppi lost a three-man race for two District 5 seats on the county board in November and is a former Naperville Unit District 203 school board vice president.

• Tom Kastner is a political newcomer from Naperville who graduated from North Central College in 2002.

• Paul Santucci is a Naperville Township Republican precinct committeeman.

• Joe Wozniak lost a three-man race for two Republican nominations for the two District 5 county board seats in last February's primary, but remains a trustee of the regional office of education.

• John Zediker is CEO of Naperville's Moser Enterprises after spending several years working for the city of Naperville's Transportation, Engineering and Development Department.