Has Buffalo Grove found replacement for Stone?
Buffalo Grove Village President Elliott Hartstein announced Sunday he will recommend the appointment of Eric Smith, vice chairman of the village plan commission, to replace recalled Trustee Lisa Stone.
Hartstein said he will make the recommendation at Monday's village board meeting.
Based on his informal vetting of Smith with members of the village board, Hartstein said he anticipates approval. He said when he sought input from fellow board members, Smith was on everyone's shortlist of people with experience who could hit the ground running.
He said Smith's involvement in a multitude of positions within the community for more than a decade makes him an ideal person for this vacancy. Smith is a past president of the Buffalo Grove Chamber of Commerce and past president of the Buffalo Grove Rotary.
He also previously served on the village's appearance commission and board of health.
Smith is a chiropractor, with a long-standing practice in Buffalo Grove.
“As a local business man and professional, and as an experienced commissioner, Eric will bring much to the table and a valuable perspective,” Hartstein said in a written statement.
This is an interim appointment until someone is elected for the open 2-year term next April.
Hartstein said Smith indicated he has no intention to run for the seat, which ensures that the whole community will have a say in filling the 2-year term. Hartstein said he did not want to politicize the appointment by picking someone who was thinking of running and wanted to get someone in place as soon as possible.
The vacancy did not officially exist until last Wednesday when the election officials in Cook and Lake counties certified results of the Nov. 2 election.
The balance of the 2-year term on the vacancy must be filled during an election this April. Anyone who wants to run for the seat can get information and petition packets at village hall. Thus far, only Andrew Stein, who ran against Stone in the last election, has expressed interest in running for the seat.