Bartlett teen mayoral hopeful bows out
Bartlett voters know at least one thing about the April election: Their next village president will be able to legally buy a beer.
Steven R. Vaughn, the 18-year-old Northern Illinois University student and South Elgin High School graduate, said Wednesday he's dropping out of the race to replace Bartlett Village President Catherine Melchert, who is retiring. Vaughn's nominating petitions have been challenged.
"I'm not really too disappointed because I'm an optimistic person," he said.
Bartlett resident Leonard Kaczmarek filed the objection, questioning whether Vaughn collected a sufficient number of signatures to get on the ballot.
Vaughn said he was six short of the 108 signatures from registered voters needed to place him on the April 7 ballot said he doesn't plan to fight the objection.
Kaczmarek couldn't be reached for comment.
That leaves Bartlett Village Trustee Sherri Bormann and Hanover Township Supervisor Michael E. Kelly as the two candidates vying to replace Melchert who is stepping down after 16 years in office.
A hearing on the objection has been scheduled for Monday at village hall. Vaughn said he'll ask Village Clerk Linda Gallien to cancel it.
"I'm trying not to waste their time," he said.
Vaughn said he decided about a year ago to run, wanting to reform Bartlett's government. He's never held elected office, though Vaughn said he is president of the NIU Libertarian Party. He's a freshman majoring in accounting and lives in a dorm room.
Vaughn said he'd reviewed meeting minutes to familiarized himself with local issues. He'd planned to commute between DeKalb and Bartlett if elected.
"One of the main reasons I ran was I just disagreed with the way the village handled the taxpayers' money. In my mind there's lot of things overspent on that I don't really with," he said.
Vaughn vowed to run again in four years. He doesn't think he needs experience on another board, or even as a trustee. He said a trustee just doesn't have as much influence to effect change.