Lake County State's Attorney Nerheim will seek reelection
Lake County State's Attorney Michael Nerheim filed for reelection Monday, choosing the last day to submit his papers and end any speculation about whether he'll seek a third term.
Nerheim is the only Republican in the race and thus will run unopposed in the March 17 primary. He's slated to face Democrat Eric Rinehart of Highwood in the November general election.
"It's always nice to not have a primary opponent," Nerheim said. "It allows you to save money for the general election and focus on the general."
Lake County Coroner Howard Cooper, a Bannockburn Republican, filed his candidate paperwork Monday, too. So did Democratic challenger Jennifer Banek, a Green Oaks resident who now serves on the Cook Memorial Public Library District board. They're alone in their respective primaries.
The races for state's attorney and coroner are among four countywide posts up for election in 2020. The others are circuit court clerk and recorder of deeds.
Longtime Recorder Mary Ellen Vanderventer of Waukegan is the lone Democratic candidate for her job. But on Monday she drew a Republican challenger - Emilia Czyszczon of Deerfield.
As for the court clerk, both incumbent Democrat Erin Cartwright Weinstein of Gurnee and Republican challenger Gloria Schmidt Rodriguez of Waukegan filed Monday afternoon, just hours before the deadline.
Additionally, seven of the Lake County Board's 21 seats are up for election. The incumbents - four Republicans and three Democrats - are running for reelection in all seven districts.
But three of those incumbents are set to face primary challenges from members of their own parties.
In District 2, incumbent Diane Hewitt of Waukegan is being challenged in the Democratic primary by Lucy Rios and Carolyn Rivers.
In District 4, Brent Paxton of Zion is being challenged in the Republican primary by Alanna Whitmore.
In District 7, incumbent Steve Carlson of the Gurnee area is being challenged in the Republican primary by Greg Garner.
Three seats on the North Shore Water Reclamation District board are up for election, too.
The full list of candidates can be found online at lakecountyil.gov/DocumentCenter/View/13059/Candidate-List?bidId=.