Campton foes now hope to lead

A slate of eight candidates who fought the incorporation of Campton Hills filed petitions Tuesday to get on the ballot and become the village's next leaders.

So far 15 candidates are seeking eight seats in the village's new government. Filing began Monday and ends at 5 p.m. Nov. 26.

The slate of eight is made up of Robert Young for village president, Carolyn Higgins for village clerk, and William Brown, William Lundborg, Frederick Robinson, Susan Secondi, Richard Seehafer and Marty White for village board.

When asked to comment on the group's campaign, Seehafer said members of the slate plan to issue a news release.

"We as a group want to hold off on (commenting) until we have everything prepared," said Seehafer, a retired business analyst who has lived in Campton Hills for 22 years.

Incumbent village Trustees Al Lenkaitis Jr., Mike Millette and Jim Kopec, and Village President Patsy Smith filed for election Monday. They were appointed by a judge earlier this year to serve temporary terms until the next regularly scheduled election.

Challengers Laura Andersen, John Strauss and Susan George also are vying for a seat on the six-member village board. Strauss said Smith, a member of the village's finance committee, asked him to run for village board. He is a retired corporate executive who has lived in Campton Hills for more than seven years.

Campton Hills came into existence seven months ago when 55 percent of voters approved incorporating the 20-square-mile village west of St. Charles.

But some residents who campaigned against incorporation are now hoping to dissolve the village. A petition was submitted Monday to ask voters if they want to abolish Campton Hills.

Smith, a 15-year resident and stay-at-home mom, led the incorporation effort. Lenkaitis is a 31-year resident and dairy farmer; Kopec is a 20-year resident and electrical engineer, and Millette is an eight-year resident and civil engineer.

The village includes about 9,800 residents.