Round Lake’s Dietz wants 4 more years as mayor with new political slate
Round Lake Mayor James Dietz says he’s seeking another four-year term as part of a political slate in the April election.
Dietz took the village’s top elected position when he ousted Bill Gentes in 2009. Dietz ran the table on the United for Change slate with trustee candidates Donald Newby, Sonia Sandoval and Susan Triphahn, plus Joyce Swieton, who was elected village clerk.
This time, Dietz’s political slate is called Community Commitment and sports a different look. The trustee candidates are Sandoval, Michael Blum and Dave White, with Swieton seeking the clerk’s post again.
Blum is a former Round Lake trustee and White works as a Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District lieutenant.
In announcing his re-election bid, Dietz said he’s helped stabilize the village’s finances in difficult times since he was elected to his first term in 2009. He said he wants to continue looking for ways to save village money.
Some unfinished business worth pursuing remains, Dietz said. That list includes working with the Lake County Division of Transportation on rerouting Cedar Lake Road through the village’s downtown, he said.
Dietz also said he stood by a campaign pledge from four years ago to seek competitive bidding for services. In 2009, Gentes had accused Dietz of wanting to do favors for village businesses such as A-Tire County Service.
Earlier this year, Dietz cited less expensive pricing when he unsuccessfully pushed for Ingleside Auto and Tire to receive a police vehicle contract over A-Tire. At a February meeting, Blum asked the elected officials to approve a one-year contract with Ingleside Auto and Tire while accusing the majority of the six trustees of being biased for A-Tire.
“I’m not trying to make the A-Tire issue a big part of (the campaign),” Dietz said.
Newby and Triphahn were among four trustees who voted to reject Dietz’s recommendation to select Ingleside Auto and Tire. Sandoval backed Dietz on the issue.