Uncontested ballot takes shape for Schaumburg trustee election
The race for Schaumburg village board in the April 6 election appears to be uncontested, with only three candidates running for three seats at the close of filing Monday.
But there are contested fields for mayor and three trustee positions in neighboring Hoffman Estates, though not enough candidates to require a Feb. 23 primary.
Joining incumbent trustees Frank Kozak and Jack Sullivan on the Schaumburg ballot will be plan commission Chairman Jamie Clar. Longtime Schaumburg Trustee Marge Connelly is not seeking another term.
Schaumburg resident William Olson filed nominating petitions for village trustee last week, but not a receipt demonstrating he'd filed a statement of economic interest with the Cook County clerk's office, Schaumburg Village Clerk Marilyn Karr said. Both are required to be considered a candidate, she said.
Olson unsuccessfully challenged U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg in the Democratic primary for Illinois' 8th District earlier this year, and previously ran unsuccessfully for the Schaumburg Township District Library's board of trustees in 2009.
Although Olson's name would not appear on the ballot, there is still time for him or anyone else to file notice of a write-in candidacy.
In Hoffman Estates, Mayor Bill McLeod is being challenged in his bid for a sixth full term by recently retired Hoffman Estates police lieutenant Mark Mueller, as well as resident Nicholas Waryas.
Both McLeod and Mueller are running with slates of trustee candidates. Waryas, who ran unsuccessfully for village trustee in 2017, is running independently.
McLeod's slate is made up of incumbent trustees Karen Mills, Karen Arnet and Michael Gaeta. Village Clerk Bev Romanoff, who faces no opposition for reelection, also is part of the slate.
Mueller's slate, called "Hoffman Estates Forward," consists of first-time trustee candidates James Murre, Renee Robinson and Gaurav Patel.
Mueller, who retired from the Hoffman Estates police department last month after spending more than 30 years of his career there, said he met his three fellow slate members through various community activities and found they had similar motives for running.
Schaumburg is on a different election cycle and doesn't have a race for mayor or village clerk in 2021.
A primary would have been triggered only if the number of candidates who filed exceeded four times the number of seats for a position.
The candidate filing period for local government boards without a primary system is Dec. 14 to Dec. 21.