Diana O’Kelly, Glenn Garamoni to seek Fremont Township’s top post
The race for Fremont Township supervisor will pit a veteran politician from the Mundelein area against a relative newcomer.
Diana O’Kelly, a Lake County Board member since 1994, is looking to lead the township government. So is Glenn Garamoni, a local business owner.
One of them will succeed Pete Tekampe as supervisor after the April 2013 election. The township boss since 1993, Tekampe is one of the county’s longest-serving politicians and part of a well-known, local farming family.
Tekampe backed Garamoni for the seat, saying the township needs “a new face.”
Tekampe’s endorsement didn’t faze O’Kelly. She said she was approached by township trustees and other officials to lead their “Fremont United” slate, and she is excited to serve.
“I love local government and I always wanted to be township supervisor,” the 53-year-old Republican said. “And now is the perfect time because Pete is leaving.”
O’Kelly was re-elected in November to the county board, which doubles as the Lake County Forest Preserve District board. She represents the 10th District.
She said she will resign her county posts if she wins the township race.
“I will not double dip,” she said.
O’Kelly is the longtime leader of the county board’s public works and transportation committee. She also led the committee that redrew the district boundaries in 2011 and reduced the board’s members from 23 to 21.
If elected supervisor, O’Kelly said she wants to bring more county resources to Fremont Township, including services that help people find affordable housing, jobs and temporary shelter.
Garamoni, 56, owns G&G Motors, an auto sales and towing business. A Mundelein-area resident, he is a Republican precinct committeeman and has never run for higher office.
Despite his lack of elected service, Garamoni believes he can handle the supervisor’s job “better than (O’Kelly) can.” He touted his business experience and stressed a need for continued fiscal responsibility.
“I think I can take over where Peter left off and run the township the right way,” he said.
The race for supervisor will be the only ballot showdown in Fremont Township. All of the other seats are uncontested.
Trustee Chris McCann is the lone candidate for clerk. She’s set to replace incumbent Barbara Tonkery.
Assessor Ed Sullivan Jr. is running unopposed for re-election, as is Highway Commissioner Bill Grinnell.
Finally, four candidates will be on the ballot for the four township board seats. Chic Martin and Connie Shanahan are incumbents, while Jeri Atleson and Tami Forman are newcomers.
Incumbent Mike Gustafson isn’t running again, and McCann is running for clerk.
All of the positions carry 4-year terms.
Fremont Township includes parts of Mundelein, Libertyville, Grayslake, Round Lake, Round Lake Park, Long Grove, Wauconda, Hawthorn Woods and North Barrington, as well as unincorporated areas of Lake County.