Snyder, Boland lead in Palatine library race

Though some mail-in ballots are still anticipated, a canvass Friday identified the two likely winners in the Palatine Public Library District board race that included three write-ins candidates.

Hal Snyder, the only candidate with his name on the ballot, led the field with 4,279 votes. Tracy Boland was tops among the three write-ins, with 198 votes.

Behind her were fellow write-ins Kelly Schmidt, with 150 votes, and Mary Insprucker, with 132.

Snyder said his decision to run came after learning that two longtime trustees, board President Barbara Illian and Treasurer Jill Jensen, were not running again. He then recruited Boland to run after the filing period closed with only one candidate nominated for the two board seats.

"I knew her before (the campaign)," Snyder said. "We campaigned together and we had a common Facebook page."

Snyder said he later met Schmidt at a library board meeting and learned the other write-ins' interest also was generated by the potential for a vacant seat.

He described the election as a friendly one, with the candidates' interest focused on carrying on the good work of the current board.

"I can tell you from campaigning that people love the library," he said.

Boland agreed, saying that although she is primarily a book user at the library, she was amazed to learn over the past few months the breadth of other materials, services and facilities provided there.

Cook County clerk's office spokeswoman Courtney Greve cautioned that all results are unofficial until the wait for mail-in ballots is declared closed.