Former McHenry County Board member nominated to fill vacancy

After losing a bid for re-election this past fall, Joe Gottemoller could reclaim a District 3 seat on the McHenry County Board, pending approval of his appointment.

Gottemoller, a Crystal Lake Republican, has been nominated to fill a position vacated by Michael Walkup when he resigned from the board in December, according to a news release from board Chairman Jack Franks. The county board will vote on his appointment Feb. 19.

A zoning and land use attorney, Gottemoller was first elected to the board in 2012 and became chairman of the planning and development committee. He later served as board chairman for two years before losing to Franks in the first countywide election of the position.

In the November 2018 election, Gottemoller was defeated by Democrat Kelli Wegener and Republican Lori Parrish in the race for two District 3 seats.

The county received a strong pool of candidates to fill Walkup's position, Franks said. Gottemoller's knowledge, professionalism and previous accomplishments made him the best choice, he said.

"While the county board benefited from the infusion of new faces from the November election, we lost a very talented and dedicated lawmaker," Franks said. "It is my distinct honor to bring Joe forward for consideration."

During his tenure, Gottemoller also served as chairman of the transportation committee and spearheaded an initiative to reduce the size of the county board from 24 to 18 seats by 2022.

District 3 includes portions of Cary, Crystal Lake, Island Lake, McHenry, Port Barrington, Prairie Grove, Bull Valley, Lakemoor and Oakwood Hills, as well as Nunda, McHenry and Algonquin townships.