Michels wins new term as Sugar Grove village president

Sugar Grove voters on Tuesday granted Sean Michels another term as their village president in what he believes is a mandate for the village to hold its present course.

Unofficial vote totals show Michels getting 957 votes Tuesday (63.4 percent), while his opponent, Perry Clark, got 514 votes (34 percent).

"It's a great feeling, and quite a relief," Michels said Tuesday. "We worked very hard during this campaign, and it was a humbling experience to get out and talk to the residents. I'm grateful for all the support they've given me."

Michels, who was elected to his third full term as village president, said he interprets the vote as an affirmation of the course the village is on - one of controlled growth.

"I think people want us to attract commercial development to the village to diversify our tax base," he said. "But they want us to do that responsibly."

Michels said he is optimistic about future development opportunities, despite the economy. The village has spent millions on valuable infrastructure improvements that will make Sugar Grove an attractive spot for developers when the recession ends, he said.

Clark, a business consultant and former head of the Sugar Grove Economic Development Corp., lobbied for a more diverse housing market and an easier development process for commercial builders.

"I respect the choice that the voters of Sugar Grove have made," he said Tuesday. "But I wasn't the only one who voted for me. More than 500 people showed that they agree with my philosophy, and I hope the board respects that."

Clark said he was happy with how the campaign was run, on both sides. When asked whether he would try to re-enter the political arena in the future, the former village trustee said he wasn't sure.

"Right now, I'm just going to take tomorrow off and enjoy some time with my family," he said. "When a trustee spot opens again, I'll re-evaluate things at that time."

Voters appear also to have returned some familiar faces to the village board. Incumbent trustees Robert Bohler and Thomas Renk were the highest vote-getters in the race Tuesday, according to the unofficial totals. Bohler received 733 votes and Renk received 661 votes.

It's not clear yet who will take the third open seat on the village board. Rick Montalto was third of the six candidates late Tuesday night with 627 votes, but incumbent trustee Mary Heineman ran as a write-in candidate and Kane County officials won't tabulate write-in votes until today.