Field takes shape in Bloomingdale village board race

The race this spring for three seats on the Bloomingdale village board will feature at least four candidates.

Incumbent Jeff Dolce filed a nominating petition Thursday to retain his seat, four days after trustees Robert Czernek and James King filed as the Unity Party on a ticket with newcomer Michael Hovde.

Hovde, an attorney who represents both individual clients and businesses, has never held elected office but has served for 12 years as chairman of the Bloomingdale School District 13 Education Foundation. He is also vice president and secretary of the board of Clare Oaks, a continuing-care retirement community in Bartlett.

A lifelong Bloomingdale resident, Hovde said he's attended village board meetings for nearly two years to get a grasp of the issues.

“It seems like there's a perception that businesses aren't very welcome in the village, that there is a lot of red tape if you're trying to open a business or get rezoning,” Hovde said. “That may just be a perception, but it needs to be addressed.”

He also voiced concern about Bloomingdale's decision to raise phone and gas taxes. He suggested the village consider other cost-saving measures, such as switching to online payment for water bills in an effort to cut postage and paper costs.

Dolce will fight to retain the seat he was appointed to in April 2009, after Trustee John Dabrowski was elected Bloomingdale Township assessor. Before he sat on the board, Dolce served on Bloomingdale's plan commission for a decade and was its chairman for four years.

“I didn't really have much of an agenda when I was appointed, but I had a good feel for the village and its operations,” said Dolce, who works for the Chicago Transit Authority and is in charge of maintaining its fare collection equipment.

But with nearly a year under his belt, Dolce said there are some issues he'd like to oversee in a new term. He said trustees must protect the interests of schools in districts that cross into other municipalities, such as Glenbard East High School and Winnebago Elementary.

“It's important to make sure they don't fall through the cracks,” Dolce said.

He also said he would like to see more interdepartmental cooperation with Bloomingdale groups, like the village and park district. This is especially key, he said, in dealing with local crises like the mass of fish found dead from the heat in Westlake Park in July.

“I am new enough to still have fresh ideas, but I've got the experience to hit the ground running,” Dolce said.