Former chamber chair running for Bartlett village president

At least two people will be vying for the position of Bartlett village president in next April’s election.

Kevin Wallace, a 20-year resident of the village and former chairman of the Bartlett Chamber of Commerce, said Thursday he is circulating a petition to get his name on the spring 2013 ballot.

“I think the current village board had some controversy, but I think the village overall has operated efficiently, or fairly well, and I think we’re just lacking some civility in our leadership,” he said.

Wallace is married with three children and works as a senior mortgage consultant for Wintrust Mortgage. He currently serves on the village’s economic development commission and said he has been thinking about running for a spot on the board for the past year or two.

“I could see that there was a need for someone to step up and serve the community,” he said, adding that he won’t list specific issues he hopes to address until his name is on the ballot.

Wallace said he plans to schedule meet and greets in the upcoming months so he can talk with residents and listen to their suggestions and concerns.

Last week, trustee Patricia Ryerson Kelly said that she too will be running for village president in hopes of continuing the “wonderful things” past administrations have done.

The current village president, Michael Airdo, announced last week he will not run for the position in the upcoming election. He said he knew when he sought re-election as a trustee in 2009 it would be his final term on the board. Trustees appointed Airdo to village president in December, shortly after his predecessor, Michael Kelly, resigned.

Anyone wishing to run for village president, trustee or clerk can pick up nominating petitions at village hall, 228 S. Main St., from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Petitions must be filed with the clerk between Dec. 17-24.