Grayslake fills village board vacancy

Grayslake resident Bill Kornit, a 20-year member of the community who works as a commercial lender, was sworn in this week to fill the village board seat vacated by state Rep. Laura Faver Dias.

Dias resigned from the board in January to assume her new role representing the 62nd House District in Springfield. Dias, a Democrat, defeated Republican Adam Shores, a past Grayslake board member who now lives in Libertyville, in the November election.

Kornit will serve out the remainder of Dias' term, which runs until 2025.

Kornit works for McHenry County-based American Community Bank and Trust as a senior business development officer and said he believes his experience will help the village in the economic development arena. He said he doesn't have a particular issue or platform.

"I just want to be an active participant in the board process," Kornit said Thursday. "I love the town and I will love to contribute to its growth."

Kornit was one of several quality candidates who applied for the post, Mayor Rhett Taylor said at Tuesday's board meeting.

"We had a lot of diverse and good resumes but we can only pick one, and so I'm very proud to pick Bill," Taylor said.

Taylor noted Kornit's previous service as a member of the village's economic development commission and its small-business development center advisory board. Kornit also served as a board member for both the Lake County Chamber of Commerce and for Foundation 46, the nonprofit organization that supports Grayslake Elementary District 46.

Kornit said Thursday he applied to fill the vacancy thinking it would be a longer-term commitment.

"Obviously it would be unfair for me to go in thinking I'd just be a 2-year guy," said Kornit, who added he would wait to make his final decision on whether to seek a 4-year term in 2025.