Mayors face many challenges; Bartlett's Melchert won't run again

Candidate filing for the April 7 local elections ended Monday, giving voters their first clear picture of how mayoral and other local races are stacking up.

In several communities - including Streamwood, Palatine, Hanover Park, Deer Park, Lake Barrington and Barrington Hills - the incumbent mayor is being challenged by a sitting member of the local city council or village board.

One notable exception is in Bartlett, where Catherine Melchert, village president since 1993 and a village board member since 1982, let the filing period expire without submitting paperwork for re-election.

Another surprise twist Monday was the small number of candidates vying for Des Plaines Mayor Tony Arredia's job in April.

Though on 14 people took out nominating petitions for mayor, only four candidates threw their names in the hat by Monday's deadline to replace Arredia, who is being ousted by term limits.

Three candidates, Mark Thompson, 2nd Ward Alderman Martin Moylan and Mike Lake, filed on the first of candidate filing. Dick Sayad, who was 4th Ward alderman for eight years ending in 2007 because of term limits, joined the race Monday.

In Lake Barrington, Village President Kevin Richardson will face longtime Trustee Jean Vonder Haar in his bid for a second term.

Likewise, Barrington Hills Trustee George L. Schueppert will try to oust incumbent Robert G. Abboud to take over as village president.

Even as Billie Roth approaches her 20th anniversary as Streamwood village president, she'll be challenged by Jason Speer, the newest member of her village board who's halfway through his first term.

Wheeling may or may not have a four-way challenge for the mayor's office.

Acting Village President Dean Argiris filed for both mayor and trustee and has five business days to decide which office he truly covets.

Should Argiris vie for the mayor's post, he will face two sitting trustees, Judy Abruscato and Patrick Horcher, and David Kolssak, a member of the Chicago Executive Airport board, in April.

A new opponent has also emerged for Rosemont Village President Bradley Stephens, as local resident Joseph Watrach filed to run against him.

Barrington Village President Karen Darch, however, received a free pass to another term, as no one filed to run against her. Likewise, in South Barrington, no one filed to run against Village President Frank Munao.

In Bartlett, without Melchert in the field, voters will have a choice for their new village between Sherry Bormann, a trustee since 2003; Michael Kelly, who's been Hanover Township supervisor for 12 years; and Steven Ray Vaughn, who has not held an elected office in Bartlett before.

Melchert could not be reached for comment Monday on her decision not to run again.