Hill retains Geneva's 1st Ward, Dantino wins tight race in 5th

Geneva's 1st Ward decided to stick with Alderman Sam Hill Tuesday.

Hill, who has served since 2001, defeated Michael Olesen, receiving 56 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results.

Hill, a retiree, said he wants to create a city housing commission to study providing affordable housing to senior citizens.

This was Olesen's first run for public office. He owns an investment firm and Stockholm's Pub.

In the 5th Ward, Ralph Dantino won the four-way fight to replace Alderman Paul DesCoteaux. The senior alderman is stepping down after 20 years on the council. He also served as mayor pro tem following the death of Mayor William Ottilie in the 1990s. Dantino was opposed by attorney Douglas Warlick, businessman Roger Henry and college student John Trierweiler. Dantino notched 33 percent of the vote, Trierweiler 28 percent, Warlick 27 percent and Henry 8 percent.

In the 2nd Ward, Richard Marks defeated former alderman Renee Brenner. Brenner served the ward from 1997 to 2001 then stepped down. Alderman William Barclay, who has held the post the last eight years, decided not to run again.

Marks had 56 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results.

"I think it is the financial experience that probably counted," Marks said Tuesday night in explaining his win. During his campaign, he suggested his professional experience as an accountant would benefit the council as it deals with difficult budget matters. He also suggested that the city study selling unused assets, and consider contracting out its leaf pickup service if a third pickup could be added to the schedule for not much more money than residents now pay for the service.

Marks, who ran unsuccessfully for the seat in 2005, has been a regular visitor to city council meetings the last few years.

He suggested that aldermen be assigned as liaisons to city departments, to improve their understanding of matters.

The council is expected to approve a budget later this month that calls for a 20 percent reduction in spending in the general fund. The city relies on sales tax for about 28 percent of the revenue for that budget, and with people cutting back on spending, that revenue is expected to drop to levels not seen since 2004.

Dantino is replacing an alderman who is known for being critical of city spending and a stickler for insisting the city should get competitive bids on all the goods it purchases and services for which it contracts.

Tuesday, he attributed his win to the relatives and friends who campaigned in his stead while he spent eight days in the hospital in late March, recovering from emergency surgery. "I had a good team," he said.

Trierweiler, a 20-year-old college student living with his parents, said his youth was an issue at the beginning of the campaign, but not once people met him and heard his plans. "Nobody saw it as a joke. People took me seriously," he said.

Hill wants to create a commission to study providing affordable housing for seniors.

Mayor Kevin Burns was unopposed, as were clerk Lynn Landberg and treasurer Patrick McQueeny.