Lake County chairwoman close to recommending names for vacancies

A month after her initial attempt to fill a vacant seat on the Lake County Board fizzled, Chairwoman Suzi Schmidt is close to announcing her new nominee for that post and two others.

"I've got it narrowed down," said Schmidt, who's responsible for recommending candidates for vacancies on the 23-member panel, which doubles as the county's forest preserve district board. "I'm still interviewing a couple (people) for different seats."

It'll be up to the full board to approve or reject the nominations.

Schmidt, a Lake Villa Republican, expects the names will be made public Thursday when they appear on the agenda for the regularly scheduled July 14 meeting.

The three vacancies arose in recent months when Waukegan Democrat Bob Sabonjian, Long Grove Republican Pam Newton and Lake Zurich Republican Michael Talbett resigned.

Newton and Talbett quit the board to take administrative jobs at local villages, while Sabonjian resigned after he was elected mayor in Waukegan.

Although she has favorites for each of the three posts, Schmidt doesn't want to let the cat out of the bag early. She expects to submit names for the agenda Wednesday.

Last month, Schmidt tapped Waukegan resident Keith Turner to replace Sabonjian, but Turner withdrew because of a perceived lack of support from the board's Democrats and other factors.

Schmidt also was miffed Turner alerted the news media and public to a celebratory party before his ascension was finalized.

Schmidt doesn't expect problems with her nominees this time.

"I'm hoping they'll all be supported unanimously," she said.

The July 14 meeting is set to begin at 9 a.m. at the county government center, 18 N. County St., Waukegan. To see the agenda when it's finalized, visit lakecounty.legistar.com/calendar.aspx.