Rolling Meadows voters to choose new mayor
A former Rolling Meadows alderman and a newcomer to local politics will contend to succeed Mayor Ken Nelson, who is stepping down next spring due to term limitations.
Former Alderman Tom Rooney and Jonathan Trapani have filed their candidacies for the April 5 election to Nelson's office.
Monday marked the final date for candidates to file in a variety of municipal, park district, library district and school board races across the suburbs.
Rooney, 42, announced his intention to run for the mayor's post in September, while Trapani, 28, filed last week. Both are high school teachers.
Both agreed that money is a big issue for the city. Rooney said he would continue most of Nelson's policies, and that his good relationship with city employees will be important when the council tries to hold a hard line during contract negotiations with police and firefighters. In the past 10 years pay hikes have risen above the cost of living, he said.
“Any time you're looking at a budget you should stay away from property taxes when you can,” said Rooney. “But the city's portion is only about one-fifth of the property tax bill.”
Rooney has a website at rooneysbus.com.
Trapani said he has lived in the city all his life and would like to give back, a lesson he learned from his father, Tom Trapani, a longtime member of the Rolling Meadows park board.
“I hear people say the same people are running over and over and we need new blood. Yes, I'm inexperienced, but a benefit is I don't come in with any preconceived notions or ideas,” he said.
Trapani said he would like to see more input from residents about what they would like to see cut and what services and features they would like to retain.
Three of the four aldermanic seats up for election in Rolling Meadows also are contested.
Running in Ward 3 are Alderman Larry Buske and former economic development director Rod Blane. In Ward 5, Robert Banger Jr. and Jon Bisesi are running to replace Alderman Glenn Adams, who cannot run again due to term limit regulations.
The candidates for Ward 7 alderman include incumbent Jim Larsen, former Alderman Rudolf Balek, and James Suchecki. Michael Cannon is running uncontested for alderman in Ward 1.
Among the other races in the Northwest suburbs, Barrington Hills' field of candidates became even more crowded than anticipated with nine candidates running for four trustee positions. More than two slates have arisen from recent political turmoil in the village, especially centered around consideration of a controversial ordinance regulating outdoor lighting.
One of the trustee seats is for a 2-year term while the other three are for 4-year terms.
Village President Robert Abboud, who is midway through his current term, is backing Karen Selman and Patty Meroni for two of the 4-year terms and Dawn Davis for the 2-year term.
A slate formed by the Common Sense Party, which evolved from the protest group Homeowners Against Lighting Ordinances (HALO), consists of current Trustee Beth Mallen, Steve D'Amor e and Diane “Dede” Wamberg for the 3-year seats and Harold “Skip” Gianopulos for the 2-year seats.
Additionally, residents Joe Messer and David Stieper have filed for 4-year terms.
In contrast, the nearby Barrington trustee race is only barely contested, with incumbents Paul Hunt and Jim Daluga being joined on the ballot by Michael Kozel and Robert Windon.
In Elk Grove Village, trustees Samuel Lissner, James Petri and Nancy Czarnik are facing challenges from Michael Urban and Elk Grove Library Trustee Timothy Burns.
In Arlington Heights five people have filed for four seats on the village board — three incumbents; Mike Sidor, who was defeated for a board seat two years ago; and Bruce Green, chairman of the plan commission.
Ÿ Daily Herald staff writers Madhu Krishnamurthy and Kimberly Pohl contributed to this report.
Elections: Nine running for four spots in Barrington Hills