Lysakowski headed to reelection in Des Plaines' 1st Ward, overcoming write-in challenge
Former Des Plaines City Clerk Gloria Ludwig's write-in campaign to unseat 1st Ward Alderman Mark Lysakowski appears to have come up short.
Now that nearly all of Cook County's mail-in ballots have been counted, unofficial results from the April 6 election showed Lysakowski ahead 370 votes to 264 votes.
The deadline for mail-in ballots to arrive at the Cook County clerk's office is Tuesday afternoon.
Lysakowski was the only 1st Ward candidate on the ballot. The apparent victory gives him a second 4-year term on the city council.
On Tuesday, Lysakowski said he expected the race would be close but was confident he'd win based on conversations with 1st Ward voters.
He expressed thanks for their support.
Ludwig and her supporters hoped the vote would be closer, especially because Cook County election data indicated 723 people voted in the 1st Ward. But the results show not all of those people voted in the aldermanic race.
Ludwig said she'd wait until the election results are certified by April 27 before conceding.
"I'm not calling it quits yet," said Ludwig, who served as city clerk from 2009 to 2017.
Three other aldermanic races were on the ballot in Des Plaines, but their outcomes were clear on election night. Political newcomer Sean Oskerka won a four-way race for the 3rd Ward seat, incumbent Carla Brookman won reelection in the 5th Ward and newcomer Patricia L. Smith won in the 7th Ward.
Additionally, Alderman Andrew Goczkowski was elected mayor and newcomer Jessica Mastalski was elected city clerk.