Two write-ins win, 24-year incumbent loses, in Sugar Grove

Longtime Sugar Grove Trustee Mari Melson Johnson lost Tuesday, falling victim to the successful write-in campaigns of Ryan Walter and Jennifer Konen, as well as Trustee Heidi Lendi, who was on the ballot.

Johnson has been on the board for 24 years.

Trustee David Paluch, who has been on the board for eight years, also lost.

Lendi was the top vote-getter, with 766, followed by Konen with 573 and Walter at 554. Paluch had 372, and Johnson 337.

Lendi, Walter and Konen were endorsed by a group called Independents for Sugar Grove Village Trustee. The group formed in opposition when the village board was considering allowing Crown Community Development to build a large business park on nearly 760 acres near I-88 and Route 47. It would have consisted largely of warehouses and distribution centers. Hundreds of people attended multiple plan commission hearings in January, until the developer withdrew the plan.

Lendi was appointed to the board in 2017.