Hoffman planning chair Stanton: I'll apply for trustee vacancy

Hoffman Estates Plan Commission Chairman Gary Stanton confirmed he will apply for the village board vacancy created this week by the resignation of Trustee Cary Collins.

Stanton said he's also circulating petitions to run for trustee in the April election, joining a candidate slate assembled by Mayor William McLeod.

“Gary's been involved in the village for a long time,” McLeod said, citing Stanton's involvements on various commissions. “He has pretty good judgment, I thought he'd be a good person.”

McLeod, Stanton said, called him last week and asked if he'd run on the slate that includes incumbent trustees Anna Newell and Gary Pilafas. McLeod isn't up for election until 2013.

Park District Commissioner Scott Triphahn was to be the third member, but he won't run, as he's coping with gastric cancer.

Triphahn's decision to focus on his health left McLeod needing another candidate to fill out the slate, and he decided Stanton fit the bill.

Like Collins, Stanton, 60, holds a law license, though he's not currently practicing. Stanton was a public defender for more than 33 years.

He's applied for trustee vacancies in 2001 and 2007, and also ran for Cook County judge in 2008, but lost in the Democratic primary. Collins ran for judge in the same election, as a Republican, but also lost in the primary.

“Had both of us won (the primary), we would have running against each other,” Stanton noted.

Considered a favorite to replace Collins, Stanton is familiar with the Sears Centre financial situation, having served as chair of the village's arena ad hoc committee.

Last year, the village took over the arena, which never made money. This year the arena has lost about $730,000, which is less than initially expected. Village officials count that as a win and expect further improvement.

“I'm excited that they were able to do better than what was projected,” Stanton said. “Had they had the hockey team this year, maybe they would have done even better.”

McLeod said Stanton's experience with the Sears Centre was a boon, but it's not the only reason why he feels he is a strong candidate.

Besides his work on the arena committee, Stanton has served in several volunteer committees and chaired the plan commission since 2001. Village trustees have talked of merging the plan commission with the village's zoning board of appeals.

“I have mixed feelings, I like the way the things are,” Stanton said. “(But) I understand the need to try to get things together so people that come in front of the boards don't have to go through two separate hearings.”

The deadline to apply for the Collins' vacancy is 5:30 p.m. Nov. 19. McLeod said so far two people have made inquiries about applying. He added he'd prefer if a new trustee is seated by the end of the year.

The chosen candidate would be guaranteed only the remainder of Collins' term, which ends in April.

Collins this week expressed interest in the village's assistant corporation counsel job if its current occupant, Dominick DiMaggio, steps down. The job earns $72,592 per year. Trustees receive a $5,900 annual salary.