April election winners sworn in in Mount Prospect

With the suspense of an election with three write-in trustee candidates finally over, the Mount Prospect village board could get on with its business last week as two new trustees, an incumbent trustee and a re-elected mayor were sworn in.

Mayor Arlene Juracek, who won re-election, expressed her willingness to work with new board members Eleni Hatzis and Bill Grossi.

She said, "I am eager to hear and incorporate their views and experience, and I am confident that we will continue to govern for the collective good and not as political rivals."

Both Hatzis and Grossi tipped their hats to outgoing Trustee Steven Polit, who was honored prior to the installation ceremony.

Of Polit, Hatzis said, "These are some tough shoes to fill in this seat right here. I will try my hardest to do so, to fill these shoes."

"I hope to somehow be as good as Mr. Polit was here in this spot." Grossi said. "I want to thank everybody who took the time to go out and vote, whether you voted for me or another candidate. I also want to thank all of the candidates that ran, because stepping up to do this is not an easy thing."

As for Polit, he said, "He has been a fountain of information for me in the days after the election, and I'm going to miss him and I will give him a call every once in a while."

Trustee Michael Zadel, the lone incumbent trustee returning, said, "I think that this is a very exciting time in Mount Prospect. There are a lot of things coming up and a lot of things going on, both within this community, regionally and statewide. Not all of them are going to be real pleasant. All of them will require a great deal of work and dedication."