Kovarik cruises to mayoral win

Gurnee Mayor Kristina Kovarik crushed her two challengers and will remain in her post for another four years.

With all 32 precincts reporting, unofficial results show Kovarik with 2,066 votes. Trustee Greg Garner received 941 votes and resident Anthony "Tony" Maniscalco managed 353. Kovarik gained 61 percent of the vote.

Kovarik, who became mayor in 2005, said she looks forward to leading the village for another four years. The accomplishments she touted during her campaign included pushing for more technology to make village government more efficient and holding discussions with Simon Property Group Inc. on making improvements at Gurnee Mills.

"I didn't hear any negative stuff," Kovarik said, "and I knocked on a thousand doors. People were happy."

Garner said he'll continue for another two years on the Gurnee village board as a trustee. Appointed by Kovarik to fill her unexpired trustee term in September 2005, Garner said he'll continue looking out for the residents' best interests.

"It is what it is," Garner said of his mayoral defeat. "The people of Gurnee have spoken. And I respect that."

Maniscalco is involved in a federal lawsuit against the village, Police Chief Robert Jones and others, claiming a conspiracy was behind his arrest after a fast-food eatery visit in 2007. Jurors in Lake County court last December acquitted Maniscalco of charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, battery and disorderly conduct.

In the trustee race, incumbents Hank Schwarz and Jeanne Balmes retained their seats and will be joined by a newcomer, Kirk Morris. Five candidates ran for three open trustee posts. Unofficial results show Balmes received 1,993 votes, followed by Morris with 1,760 and Schwarz at 1,601. On the outside were incumbent David Ohanian with 1,304 and Mark Ratfelders at 1,220.

As for the clerk's race, incumbent Andrew Harris and Megan Caras ran as write-ins. Results for write-ins were not immediately known.