Five contested Lake County Board primary races emerge from candidate filing week
A few contested primary and general election races were created during the weeklong candidate filing period in Lake County that ended Monday.
Five contested primaries for Lake County Board are currently expected to appear on March 17 primary ballots — four for Democrats and one between Republicans.
There also is a contested Democratic primary for Ward 3 of the North Shore Water Reclamation District between Beverly Sugar Young and Jose A. Guzman.
For the Lake County Board’s District 3, centered near Lincolnshire, 2022 candidate Wendy Meister and newcomer Jaclyn Rodriguez will face each other in the Democratic primary. Republican Ann Maine, who has been on the board since 2002, did not file.
In District 6, Grayslake resident John Wasik is seeking a third term and being challenged by fellow Democrat Kristal Larson, former Avon Township clerk and the first openly transgender candidate to win elected office in Lake County.
In District 14, which covers portions of North Chicago and Waukegan, Democrat and Foss Park District Commissioner Carmecia Hawthorn and Foss Park Board President and North Chicago City Treasurer Vance D. Wyatt will contend for their party’s nomination.
In District 16, there will be a Democratic contest between incumbent Esiah A. Campos of Round Lake Beach and Juan Beto Ruiz.
In District 17, Republican Michael Danforth of Fox River Grove is being challenged in his party’s primary by Joe Salvi. The winner of that spring race will then face Democrat Mary Mesa in the fall.
Three further general election races in Lake County for next Nov. 3 have also been established from the candidate filing period. But political parties can still slate candidates for the general election until June 1, nearly two and a half months after the primary.
Democratic Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg is being challenged by Republican Roman Buchberger.
There will be a November race for Lake County Treasurer between Democrat Sandy Hart and Republican Roman Buchberger.
Republican John Muellner is running in place of longtime incumbent Linda Pedersen for the Antioch-area District 1 of the Lake County Board and will face Democrat and Antioch village Trustee Jose S. Martinez.
The Lake County Clerk’s office clarified that the list represents those who had filed nominating petitions through Monday but would not be considered final until certification is received from the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Though the exact time is still being finalized, a lottery to determine ballot position for candidates who filed simultaneously at the beginning or end of the filing period is tentatively scheduled for 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11.