Lake County primary races expected to be few and far between, but there are wrinkles
The first day of filing for Lake County elected offices Monday was quiet, and although the majority of incumbent filers likely won’t face a primary opponent, there are some wrinkles.
Twelve of 19 county board spots as well as the countywide offices of clerk, regional superintendent of schools, sheriff and treasurer will be on the ballot with precinct committee persons and two North Shore Water Reclamation district trustee spots.
Nine of those 12 county board seats and all four countywide posts up for election are held by Democrats. Incumbents Clerk Anthony Vega, Regional Superintendent Michael Karner and Sheriff John Idleburg are not expecting primary challenges.
Neither is county board Chair Sandy Hart, who is running for treasurer, as incumbent Holly Kim is running for state office. Neither Karner nor Hart filed Monday but are expected to before the end of the filing period on Nov. 3.
There will be some notable departures. Republican Linda Pedersen, who has represented District 1 in the Antioch area since 2008, is not seeking reelection.
Newcomer John Muellner of Lindenhurst, who Pedersen referred to as a “next generation leader” in his candidacy announcement, was among the first five to file Monday morning. Antioch village Trustee Jose S. Martinez filed Monday as a Democrat.
Also, Jessica Vealitzek of Hawthorn Woods is not seeking a third term. County board members double as forest preserve commissioners and last December, Vealitzek was selected by peers as president of the Lake County Forest Preserve District.
Nicki Sullivan, vice president of Diamond Lake District 76 school board, filed Monday as a Democrat for the 10th District seat.
As of Monday’s filings, at least two and possibly three Democratic primaries are expected.
In District 3, centered in the Lincolnshire area, Wendy Meister, who lost the primary in 2022, and newcomer Jaclyn Rodriguez, a forensics nurse, will be squaring off. Republican Ann Maine, who has been on the board since 2002, did not file Monday and has not made her intentions publicly known.
In District 6, Grayslake resident John Wasik, seeking a third term, is being challenged by Kristal Larson, former Avon Township clerk and the first openly transgender candidate to win elected office in Lake County.
In District 14, covering portions of North Chicago and Waukegan, Carmecia Hawthorn, a Foss Park District commissioner, filed Monday. Foss Park Board President and North Chicago City Treasurer Vance D. Wyatt announced his candidacy in July but didn’t file Monday.
Incumbent Angelo Kyle, who has served nearly three decades in separate tenures did not file Monday and has not made his intentions known publicly.
Besides Idleburg and Wasik, who were first in line, other Democratic incumbents filing Monday included: Gina Roberts, representing District 4 in far northeastern Lake County; Carissa Casbon in District 7 in the Gurnee area; Paul Frank of Highland Park for District 11; Libertyville resident Jennifer Clark for District 15; Esiah Campos in the Round Lake area for District 16; and Marah Altenberg of Buffalo Grove for District 19 in southern Lake County.
Republican incumbent Michael Danforth of Fox River Grove also filed in District 17.