Thomas, Paszkiewicz, Spieker in Pingree Grove

In the race for Pingree Grove village board, newcomers Bernard Thomas, Brian Paszkiewicz and Robert Spieker were elected today to 4-year terms.

Thomas had the highest percentage of votes at 22.1 percent, followed by Spieker at 14.8 percent and Paszkiewicz at 13.4 percent. Raymond LaMarca, another newcomer, came in fourth with 12.1 percent of the vote. All vote tallies are unofficial.

Meanwhile, village Trustee Greg Marston will become the village’s new president after running unopposed. Also running unopposed and winning their seats were Joanna Wester, elected village clerk, and Steve Wiedmeyer, elected to a 2-year trustee term.

Voter turnout was only 13 percent, with a total of 267 ballots cast.

Thomas, who turned 75 on March 25, said he was surprised at the results.

“I had a lot of competition, all younger than me, but I guess the people listened to me more than they listened to them,” he said.

Thomas said he didn’t do a lot of door-knocking, instead mostly talked about his candidacy to fellow residents of Cambridge Lakes North subdivision. Several people who supported him, however, helped get the message out via mailers and Facebook, he said.

Paszkiewicz and Spieker both said they hope to reduce the village’s projected $47,000 budget deficit for the next fiscal year, which begins May 1.

Promoting new business development is another immediate goal, Spieker said.

“I am hoping to start some serious work on attracting businesses to town, so we can be an attractive destination for developers,” he said.

During the campaign, all the candidates for the 4-year trustee terms said they wanted to address the rift between the village’s older Heritage District and the newer subdivisions.

Spieker and Paszkiewicz, who live in the Cambridge South subdivision, advocated re-examining special service areas, in which property owners in specific areas are taxed for public improvements in their areas.

Thomas supported hiring a full-time village manager, despite Village Administrator Bill Barlow’s recommendation not to hire one.

Outgoing Village President Wyman “Clint” Carey, who served one term, did not seek re-election. Under his tenure, the village more than doubled in size with new annexation agreements and built up its own police force.

The new village board will be in charge of appointing someone to fill the 2-year trustee seat vacated by Marston.