Former Elk Grove police chief sworn in as trustee
Former Elk Grove Village Police Chief Stephen Schmidt was sworn in as a village trustee this week, filling what was the first open seat on the village board in more than two decades.
Schmidt, who retired in 2016 after 41 years with the department, joined longtime incumbents Nancy Czarnik and Sam Lissner in taking oaths of office Tuesday ahead of their new four-year terms. They were the top vote-getters this April in a six-way race for three seats on the board.
"I know when you make decisions, you make them for the best of the community," Schmidt told his board colleagues. "That's why I ran because I want to be a part of that."
James Petri, who decided not to seek another term after four decades, was honored two weeks ago at his last board meeting as the longest-serving elected official in village history.