Schwantz thanks Palatine voters, takes spotlight

One day after pulling off what some thought would take a Hail Mary pass, Jim Schwantz decided to go back to the place it all began.

Palatine's newly elected mayor greeted commuters early Wednesday morning at the train station, the spot where he announced his candidacy 14 months ago.

Schwantz, 39, was operating on little sleep after celebrating Tuesday night at Durty Nellie's with 500 of his closest supporters.

He won 42 percent of the vote to unseat five-term incumbent Rita Mullins, who finished third with 23 percent. Vito Manola received 26 percent, unofficial results show, while former Councilman Warren Kostka came in fourth.

Schwantz's first order of business?

A visit to the chiropractor.

"I've done a lot of walking and my back is killing me," he said. "I probably knocked on 1,100 doors."

He then hit the media circuit, including a stop at the Daily Herald for a photo shoot with 10 other Northwest suburban mayors elected or re-elected Tuesday. And Schwantz talked politics and football in a radio interview on the Score's Mully and Hanley show. The former Chicago Bear said he'll rejoin the WBBM 780-AM broadcast team after stepping down this past season while campaigning.

Schwantz joked that he hadn't heard about the Bears' acquisition of Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler, a deal he didn't think the Bears could swing.

"You're getting a guy who solves a position, barring injury, for 10 years," Schwantz said. "(Cutler) certainly has all the tools."

When asked how his NFL career would translate into politics, Schwantz referred to his competitiveness. He also lauded Mullins and the village for keeping Palatine in a strong fiscal position.

Mullins, meanwhile, speculated the political times contributed to her ouster.

"It's the climate of change and so younger means better, maybe," Mullins told ABC 7 Chicago.

Schwantz made sure to touch base with his new council, several of whom stopped by Mullins' somber campaign headquarters Tuesday night.

Councilman Greg Solberg, who ran uncontested, promised business as usual in Palatine once Schwantz is sworn into office at the May 4 council meeting.

"The mission of the village is still the same and that's to provide first-class services and to stay fiscally responsible," he said.

Councilman Jack Wagner also reiterated there won't be a dramatic change because the mayor's "primary function is ceremonial and to run the meetings."

Mullins' defeat surprised supporters, who reflected back on Mullins' 20 years in office.

South Barrington resident Bernice Giandonato and her husband are considering moving to one of downtown Palatine's row houses or condos. She donated $1,000 to Mullins' campaign though she didn't know the ousted mayor.

"We've just been keeping an eye on her over the years and think she made a great mayor," Giandonato said. "The downtown has developed beautifully."

The loss disappointed many local business owners, even though Mullins' opponents tried to paint Palatine as unfriendly to businesses.

Wendy Gold and her family said the village was very welcoming when they moved Lenzini Excavating to Palatine four years ago.

They got to know Mullins at chamber of commerce events and said she was approachable.

Sams Asghar, who lives in Palatine and runs his company SA Limo Services there, said Mullins was a big supporter of the Punjabi community and always willing to cooperate.

Mullins talked to ABC 7 Chicago in front of Palatine's train station, citing it as part of her lasting legacy: the reconstruction of downtown Palatine.

"It'll be here I hope for at least 100 years more, so I'm very proud of it," she said.