Northfield Township races just too close to call

It's a tight race for Northfield Township supervisor, and one that's certainly too close to call for now.

With all 62 precincts reporting, just 56 votes separate five-time incumbent Jill Brickman, a Republican, from challenger Shiva Mohsenzadeh, a Democrat and current trustee, according to unofficial totals. Of 13,590 votes cast, Brickman has 6,488, or 50.2%, and Mohsenzadeh has 6,432, or 49.8%.

"I'm certainly thankful for the voters," Brickman said. "I think, in my case, they looked at the individual, and I'm so grateful for that. I'm excited to be able to continue public service - that was my goal."

Other township races are just as close, unofficial totals showed.

In the trustee race, where eight candidates are competing for four, 4-year terms, Democrats captured a total of about 58% of the vote, Republicans about 42%, unofficial results show. Republican incumbents Dan Barrett garnered 5,197 votes and Melanie Peterson, 5,232. Newcomers and fellow Republicans Jeffrey Cernek has 4,811 and Robert Kamensky, 4,849.

"I'm thrilled that everyone in my slate has won," Mohsenzadeh said.

"We worked hard and knocked on many doors, and our message obviously resonated with the residents that they should expect more from our township government. It was time for the current sleepy and complacent government to go. I'm proud of my slate and all our hard work. We are looking forward to serving our residents," she said.

Among the Democrats, Scott Ottenheimer has 6,865; Vincent Pace, 6,697; Daniel Schack, 6,900; and Kate Spears, 7,265.

"I feel like I had terrific teammates, I'm proud to run with them," Brickman said. "I think they were well-qualified and brought a lot to the table, and I'm sorry about the results.

"But I certainly understand that's what happens in elections. Now I look to put politics behind us and continue good government," Brickman said.

For township clerk, incumbent Patricia Lechner, a Republican, has 5,409; challenger Caryn Fliegler, a Democrat, has 6,886, or 56% of the vote.

For assessor, it's another close race, with only 399 votes separating the candidates: Republican incumbent Patricia Damisch has 6,017, and Democratic challenger Alida Nally, 6,416.

Township highway supervisor Tim Rueckert ran unopposed.

There was not a Northfield Township-specific breakdown for votes as of late Tuesday, but in suburban Cook County as a whole there were roughly 72,500 early voters leading up to the April 6 election. Additionally, about 73,500 mail-in ballots were ordered, and some 40,000 have been returned. Ballots postmarked by Tuesday that arrive at election offices by April 20 will be counted, as will any provisional ballots.

Mohsenzadeh is optimistic about those outstanding ballots.

"I'm confident that once those are counted, that I've also won the race," she said.

"I feel confident, too," Brickman said.

Representing most of Northbrook, Glenview and part of Northfield, Northfield Township maintains the roads and bridges in unincorporated areas, serves as a liaison to Cook County to assist residents with property tax questions, offers assistance to residents through general and emergency assistance and a food pantry, registers voters and provides passport services, according to its website.