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Shore, Steele, Thompson win MWRD race

Debra Shore, Kari Steele and Patrick D. Thompson won the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District board primary Tuesday.

With 99 percent of the precincts reporting, unofficial totals show Shore with 189,636 votes, or 21.1 percent; Steele with 177,046 votes, or 19.7 percent; and Thompson with 158,294 votes, or 17.6 percent.

They were among six candidates trying to shoehorn into three, six-year terms. Other candidates were incumbents Patricia Horton and Stella Black of Chicago, and Patricia Young of LaGrange Park.

Flooding problems in recent years and passing a controversial stormwater ordinance ranked high among candidates’ priorities. The stormwater ordinance is intended to manage runoff and prevent the type of flooding that damaged suburban residents’ basements and turned intersections into lakes following a record rainfall in July 2011.

But other issues of concern were introducing green technology like rain barrels and permeable pavers plus the perks and high salaries for commissioners, who are part-time. Commissioners will be paid $70,000 a year plus they receive health care and pension benefits. The majority of candidates said they thought the stipend was justified.

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