Mount Prospect board incumbents sworn in for new terms

Three incumbents were sworn in to new terms as Mount Prospect village trustees Tuesday, but give or take a few votes, the board might have had a different makeup.

Trustee Richard Rogers noted that he won re-election by just two votes, adding that he is proof all voters make a difference.

"So you sitting out there are one of the two votes that got me into this office," Rogers told the audience at this week's village board meeting. "I really appreciate that."

Trustee Colleen Saccotelli noted the generational shift reflected in the candidates running in the April 2 election.

"Four years ago, I was the youngest candidate that ran, and it seemed novel to some that a young woman, especially one with very small children, would run for the board," she said. "This election cycle, four of the six candidates were under 40 years of age. One candidate was under 30. Three of the candidates had children under 10. This has been an amazing occurrence for our community. It means that a new generation of leaders is here and is stepping up to serve."

For Trustee Paul Hoefert, first elected to the village board in 1991, it was business as usual.

"We have accomplished a lot on this board over the years," he said. "But there is so much more to do, and I'm really excited to be a part of the future, at least for the next four years."

Among those attending the swearing-in ceremony were former Mayors Irvana Wilks and Gerald "Skip" Farley. Farley and his wife, Janice, were honored before the meeting, when the village hall community room was named in their honor.