Winfield appoints Spande to vacant trustee seat
A longtime Winfield resident who dropped out of the race for village trustee early on in the campaign did not need to win over voters after all — he had the support of the village board.
Erik Spande, who serves on several committees in the village and was universally praised by village trustees, was appointed to a vacant seat during Thursday’s village board meeting.
Village President Deb Birutis chose Spande from a field of five applicants and said she was impressed by his determination to help even after finishing just 30 votes shy from earning the seat in the 2009 election.
“But he did not take his toys and go home,” Birutis said. “He has been one of the most active volunteers our community has ever seen.”
Spande, a member of the American Institute of Professional Geologists, has served on the village’s Riverwalk and stormwater committees, as well as the Environmental Concerns Commission. Additionally, he is part of a not-for-profit organization that advocates for the Illinois Prairie Path.
This will be his first time on the village board. He takes over the seat left open when longtime trustee Joel Kunesh died Feb. 12. Spande’s term expires April 30, 2013.
Spande took a seat at Kunesh’s old spot after getting sworn in and after trustees took turns praising his service to the village.
“One name stood out as the best overall choice,” said Trustee Glenn VadeBonCeur. “He is an honest and ethical individual. His ideas are clever and well thought out. His talents will be missed on committees he has served on.”
Spande dropped out of the race in late January and said several residents asked him to consider making a run at Kunesh’s seat.
Spande said he wanted to devote as much time as he could to committees when he exited the campaign. However, hearing from residents changed his mind.
After a heated election that resulted in Tim Allen, Tony Reyes and Jim Hughes being elected to the board, Spande said it’s imperative that they work together.
“I like that we have people with different capabilities,” said Spande, who has lived in Winfield since 1996.
Trustee Jay Olson agreed with the rest of the board and he said the move will be a loss to the committees that Spande serves on but that it will be a plus for the village board.
“He is the right choice and I support bringing him in,” he said. “I’m a little concerned that it will be backstopping efforts on the committees but I think you’ll be challenged to re-prioritize.”