Gurnee mayor ready to help new peers

Gurnee Mayor Kristina Kovarik said she wished someone was there to pass out advice for her first term in office like she had the opportunity to do for several new mayors in Lake County.

"I told them the first couple of months of being mayor can be overwhelming because people are constantly asking for things, or for you to be on a board or committee," she said. "I told them to not just walk in and clean house. The best advice is to take your time, give people a chance to adjust and let them earn your respect."

Kovarik and other newly elected mayors gathered at the College of Lake County in Grayslake on Wednesday for a photo shoot with the Daily Herald.

She said she was happy to have been invited because it was a great way to meet the new public officials.

"They all want to do a good job, and I'm sure they will do a good job," she said. "But, nothing prepares people for being the mayor. I was a two-term trustee before I became the mayor, and I was amazed at how much I didn't know walking in."

Kovarik won a second term Tuesday night, easily defeating challengers trustee Greg Garner and resident Anthony "Tony" Maniscalo. She was in the minority as seven other incumbents in Lake County were ousted by voters.

"I gave them (the new mayors) my number and told them all to call if they ever needed some advice," she said. "I also warned them of the time commitment. I told them nothing prepares you for the amount of time you will need to spend adjusting to their position."