Familiar face returning to South Elgin village board

A familiar face will be sitting on the South Elgin village board in a couple of weeks.

Former trustee Scott Richmond, a lawyer who was first elected in 2005 and lost his re-election bid earlier this year, was nominated by Village President Steve Ward to fill a vacant seat on the board. Trustees gave a unanimous thumbs-up to Ward’s choice Monday night.

Richmond will be sworn in at the Dec. 16 board meeting, Village Administrator Larry Jones said Tuesday.

The trustee seat became vacant when the board elected Ward to replace Village President Jim Hansen, who died Nov. 1.

“I wish, under the circumstances, I didn’t have to (be appointed), but it’s certainly an honor,” Richmond said.

“I’m just looking forward to being back on the board and being involved in the community and serving the residents again.”

Richmond will be able to “hit the ground running,” Ward said.

“He’s very level headed,” Ward said. “I hated to lose him off the board after the last election.”

In July, Richmond was appointed by Hansen to the village’s planning and zoning commission.

“It was a good way to stay involved the community and keep abreast of what’s going on,” Richmond said.

Ward said he will have to consider whom to appoint to the commission.

Another trustee, Bill DiFulvio, lost a re-election bid earlier this year. DiFulvio was thrown off the ballot after a challenge, and received 235 votes as a write-in candidate. Richmond received 488 votes and placed fourth in the race for three open seats.

“I considered (DiFulvio),” Ward said. “(Richmond) was closest in the election, so I thought the people spoke when they did that.”