GOP incumbents sweep DuPage forest races

Four Republican incumbents cruised to easy victories Tuesday night in their bids to keep a firm grip on the DuPage Forest Preserve Commission.

All four GOP candidates captured roughly 60 percent of the vote in their individual races, including President Dewey Pierotti in what he says will be his final campaign.

Pierotti wins:

Dewey Pierotti secured what he said will be his last term as president of the forest preserve commission.

Unofficial results showed the incumbent with nearly 59 percent of the vote, easily outpacing Democratic challenger Dennis Clark.

Clark said during the campaign that the district should consider privatizing its three golf courses. Pierotti said recent attempts at privatization failed because the courses are needed for flood control.

Cantore in District 2:

Incumbent Joseph Cantore easily won re-election to his District 2 commission seat.

With all 154 precincts reporting, the Oakbrook Terrace Republican had about 59 percent of the vote over Democrat Hilary Denk.

During the campaign, Cantore and Denk expressed different opinions about a plan to build a new maintenance garage at Blackwell Forest Preserve near Warrenville.

Cantore said he has no problem putting the garage near McKee Marsh off Mack Road as long as it's smaller than the proposed 29,000 square feet.

District 2 covers all or parts of Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Hinsdale, Lisle, Lombard, Oak Brook, Oakbrook Terrace, Villa Park, Westmont and Woodridge.

Formento wins in Dist. 4:

Republican incumbent Mike Formento defeated Democrat Eric Bergman in District 4.

With 127 of 129 precincts counted, unofficial totals showed Formento with about 61 percent of the vote.

Both candidates differed on how the forest preserve spends its money. Bergman, a registered nurse and flight attendant from Glen Ellyn, claimed board members aren't asking the “tough questions” to save taxpayers money. Formento, a Glen Ellyn resident, said the board has been fiscally responsible.

District 4 includes all or parts of Wheaton, Winfield, Carol Stream, Glen Ellyn, Glendale Heights and Lombard.

Kotecki wins in District 6:

Democrat Shannon Burns said during campaign that incumbent Republican Roger Kotecki has served District 6 residents for too long. Voters disagreed.

With all 110 precincts reporting, unofficial results showed Kotecki with about 60 percent of the vote.

Burns, a business owner from West Chicago, said a commissioner shouldn't serve on the board for more than 14 years.

But Kotecki, an attorney from Warrenville, said he's held his seat since 1990 because he's been “an advocate” for the people. He said his top priority is to preserve, protect, restock and restore the land.

District 6 covers the northwest corner of DuPage and includes parts or all of Bartlett, Carol Stream, West Chicago, Winfield, Wheaton, Warrenville, Naperville and Aurora.