What will happen now in Island Lake?

The ink hadn't even dried on Tuesday's election results before the political potshots started flying in Island Lake.

Trustee-elect Laura Rabattini took aim at newly chosen Mayor Deborah Herrmann during a midnight telephone interview, calling the public's support of Herrmann "the most reckless act I've seen."

"I thought the people of Island Lake wanted change," said Rabattini, who supported Trustee John Ponio's unsuccessful bid for mayor. "I don't get it. I'm dumbfounded."

Although not as vitriolic as Rabattini, Ponio was hardly a gracious loser. He expressed disappointment in what he called "voter apathy."

"People made a choice, and it is what it is," said Ponio, who still has two years left in his trustee term.

Herrmann called Ponio's comment fair but said Rabattini's attack was "disappointing."

"If one of her goals is to look for change, then that type of comment is not going to help," Herrmann said. "Hopefully she will reconsider her views."

The exchange doesn't bode well for Island Lake government, which long has been marred by internal squabbling, high-profile battles with the public and other embarrassments.

Trustee Connie Mascillino, a Herrmann ally who won election Tuesday night, said she wants to get past the bickering and the bad publicity.

"We just want to stick to the business of Island Lake," Mascillino said. "I just want to do something positive for the village. And fighting and bickering is not a positive thing."

The new trustees and mayor - and a new village clerk - will take office in May.

Herrmann defeated Ponio by a mere 22 votes Tuesday, unofficial results showed. Former trustee Sally Fleissner also ran for mayor as a write-in candidate, but her vote totals haven't been made available.

In the seven-way race for three board seats, Rabattini, Mascillino and Donna O'Malley were victorious.

Mascillino praised Herrmann's leadership skills and said she thinks the new mayor will ensure "everyone acts as adults" at meetings.

Another Herrmann supporter, Trustee Rich Garling, said peace could be brokered if the new mayor encourages all the board members to participate in village discussions - and if Ponio and his allies step up and cooperate.

"I hold out hope that this village can move forward," said Garling, whose term ends in 2011. "This village really can and should move forward."

With new faces on the board, Rabattini said she hopes the fighting will end. She wasn't overly optimistic, however, and laid the responsibility for peace at Herrmann's feet.

"I think the tone will be set by the mayor," she said. "Hopefully she will be a fair and open mayor."

Likewise, Ponio said it's up to Herrmann to extend an olive branch.

"I really think we need to wait and see how she's going to approach it," he said.

Herrmann said working with Ponio and his allies on the board won't be a problem if they focus on the same goals.

"I'm feeling very positive about the results of the election, and I think good things will happen," she said.