Former trustee returns to Winfield board

For the second time in three years, a Winfield village president has turned to Cliff Mortenson to fill a vacant trustee seat.

Only this time, the longtime Winfield resident says he plans to seek re-election when his latest new term expires in April.

"You don't realize what you have until you don't have it anymore," Mortenson said shortly before the village board unanimously approved his appointment on Thursday night. "It was something I really enjoyed doing. I liked helping the people. I liked making a difference."

Mortenson's return to the village board was made possible when Robert Mrugacz resigned his trustee position two weeks ago, citing health issues.

Village President Deborah Birutis said two people applied for the vacancy, and she picked Mortenson because of his experience.

"The term is only until April," Birutis said. "I wanted to have somebody who can hit the ground running because it is a very short term."

Mortenson, who is a firefighter in Wheaton, has served about 12 years on Winfield's plan commission and spent half that time as the advisory panel's chairman.

The 54-year-old stepped down from plan commission when he was first appointed trustee in September 2007 by then-Village President Rudy Czech. Mortenson returned to being plan commission chairman after his first trustee term expired in April 2009.

Mortenson said he didn't seek re-election last year because he wanted to give someone else a chance to serve on the village board. It was a decision he later second-guessed.

"That last night when I was no longer going to be a trustee, I realized that maybe I made a mistake," he said. "This is something I really like doing. I like being a part of the village. I like being a part of the decision process. I like representing the people."

Village board members said they are pleased with Mortenson's return. Trustee Jay Olson said he believes Mortenson was "a solid choice" to replace Mrugacz.

"It's a good time to have that kind of leadership with some of the decision making and the referendum coming up," said Olson, referring to the two November ballot questions that will ask voters to approve a tax increase to raise money for road repairs.