Slate thinned in Round Lake Park
The field has been thinned for a trustee spot in Round Lake Park, following the withdrawal of one of a slate of candidates.
Village officials amended the ballot to remove Laure Frawley, one of three RLP for Change party members running for a trustee seat.
Fraley informed the village in writing of her decision Monday.
The action created some confusion, as it was initially unclear whether her withdrawal would have voided the entire slate, which includes challengers for mayor, trustee and village clerk.
"This is like a first so we had nothing to go on," said Cindy Fazekas, deputy village clerk. She didn't expect to get a ruling from the Lake County Clerk's office until Wednesday, as officials there were busy with a primary election Tuesday and weren't available.
"This is all new to us," agreed Mayor Jean McCue. Her slate is known as the Vision of Integrity and Progress.
Mayoral challenger Bill Baczek said he was "on the phone all day" Monday for an interpretation. He said he learned it was too late to replace Frawley on the ballot, but the other slate members were not affected.
"If she had done it earlier, you just replace the candidate," he said. Frawley, he said, told him she "thought it would be overwhelming and couldn't devote the time" to the campaign.
A candidate can be replaced if the slate filed a certificate listing officers authorized to fill vacancies, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections. It was unclear if that was filed or if a deadline had passed.
That leaves Baczek versus McCue, appointed to replace Ila Bauer, who died while in office. McCue previously served nearly 12 years as village trustee.
Incumbent Trustee Robert Seminary, with newcomers Patricia Graham and Robert Cerretti are on McCue's ticket. They'll face Martin A. Nelson III, also an incumbent, and Donna Cox.
Downtown redevelopment is among the campaign issues. Voters will be asked April 7 in an advisory referendum whether the village should issue $1.5 million for new sidewalks, landscaping and other work for its business corridor along Route 134.