Candidate filing starts for three northwest Cook County villages

Three Northwest suburban villages - Hoffman Estates, Palatine and Schaumburg - begin their weeklong filing period today for candidates wanting to run for a seat on their boards or councils.

The villages have the potential for a primary election on Tuesday, Feb. 24.

Primary races would be triggered if the number of candidates who file for a particular office exceeds four times the number of seats available.

There will be no later opportunity to file for the April 7 general election ballot in these three villages, even if a primary isn't required.

Schaumburg has the greatest number of seats available, as the terms of Mayor Al Larson, Village Clerk Marilyn Karr and trustees Tom Dailly, George Dunham and Mark Madej are ending. All have declared their intention to seek re-election.

In Hoffman Estates, the terms of trustees Anna Newell, Gary Pilafas and Gary Stanton are ending. They, too, have declared their intention to run again.

On the Palatine village council, the 2015 election will determine the District 2 seat currently held by Scott Lamerand, the District 3 seat held by Jim Clegg and the District 5 seat held by Kollin Kozlowski.

The filing period runs through Monday, Nov. 24. Palatine and Schaumburg's hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Hoffman Estates' hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with additional Saturday hours from 9 a.m. to noon.