Lake County candidate attacked by dog while distributing literature

Republican Lake County Recorder of Deeds candidate Bob Bednar is on the mend from a dog attack that occurred while he was hanging literature on doors in Lindenhurst.

“This is a freak thing,” Bednar said Tuesday. “I've walked (for campaigns) for years, and this has never happened to me.”

Lindenhurst Police Cmdr. Anthony Fikejs said Bednar was attacked by a black Labrador on the 2600 block of Delaware Court the afternoon of March 3. No citations were issued against the property owner, he said.

Bednar, a Mundelein resident, said he was placing a plastic bag with his campaign literature on the home's door when it began to open. He said he heard what sounded like distant barking when a teenage boy reached out the slightly ajar door for the bag, which then dropped.

As the teen held the dog's collar, he reached down to retrieve the bag. That's when the animal lunged at Bednar, who also was close to the ground to pick up the bag, he said.

“He jumped through the door opening, and he clamped on my lower jaw,” said Bednar, who's facing Marty Blumenthal of Highland Park in the GOP primary for recorder March 20.

Bednar, a dog owner, said he was bleeding profusely when he received paper towels to place over the wound from a campaign worker who was nearby on Delaware Court. He said he received stitches and other treatment at Vista Health System's free-standing emergency center in Lindenhurst.

Despite looking “hideous” on Sunday, Bednar said, he participated in a candidates forum in Lake Forest. He said he informed the crowd that a swollen, bloody lip was the result of the dog bite.

Blumenthal said he sympathized with Bednar when he encountered him at the debate.

“I know myself, going door to door, there are some nasty dogs out there,” Blumenthal said.

Bednar said he was feeling better Tuesday and planned to return to distributing his campaign literature.

Democratic Recorder of Deeds Mary Ellen Vanderventer, who is unopposed in the primary, will face the GOP victor in the November general election.