Challenger hoping to unseat four-term mayor in Lake Villa

Hoping to unseat four-term Lake Villa Mayor Frank Loffredo on Apr. 7, former village trustee Joyce Frayer says it's time for an administration that is more accessible and open.

The 66-year-old Frayer said she promises to run a more communicative and less secretive government, and added the current administration makes it difficult for citizens to be part of the process.

"Right now, people have to drive to the village hall and check the paper posted on the door to find out when the next village board meeting is," she said. "As mayor, I will put all meeting schedules and agendas on the village Web site."

A paragraph on Frayer's Web site also accuses the Loffredo administration of doing business in secret.

"Village government is not just a Mayor, 6 Trustees and their cronies," reads the statement. "Village issues and their discussion will be made known to all the residents, not just those that are invited to some backroom."

Loffredo, 63, says the claim has no substance. "We do everything in full view of the public," he said. "We certainly follow all the rules and we do post notices of village meetings on our Web site."

Frayer mounted two unsuccessful challenges to Loffredo in 2001 and 2005. She served as trustee from 1995 to 2003. She lost the race for trustee in 2007.

Loffredo has been mayor for 16 years. He said that fact points to the stability and cohesion he has fostered with board members.

"We don't have the turnover like you see in so many other towns," he said. "I work hard to make sure everyone is on board on whatever issue is before us."

Loffredo cited the purchase of the Lehmann Mansion, the creation of the Lake Villa Baseball Park, attracting industrial parks and the construction of the new Longwood Center Park as high points of work accomplished during his terms.

He said the village's finances are in good shape too. That will put the town in good position once the economy turns around.

"We have been fiscally responsible all these years," Loffredo said. "We've ridden the waves of an up-and-down economy and have done well. Now we are feeling positive and being proactive as we approach the leading edge of the new economy."

Both Loffredo and Frayer are longtime residents of Lake Villa. And both candidates say they want to attract new businesses but not at the expense of losing the small-town feeling.