Gurnee vice mayor position might be eliminated

Following a resident complaint, Gurnee Mayor Thomas Hood said he will introduce an ordinance to eliminate the vice mayor post created by his predecessor.

Hood's decision came four weeks after resident Ryan Horath, a former village trustee candidate, sent a letter threatening legal action if the village board did not modify or repeal the position.

Former Mayor Kristina Kovarik created the title and anointed Hood in 2019.

Horath argued the vice mayor role, as created by Kovarik, created more power for the mayor.

"The existence of this position incentivizes trustees to compete for the mayor's approval. The most obedient trustee is then likely to be named vice mayor, a position that enhances their prestige and gives them a political advantage," Horath wrote.

Kovarik said Thursday she was often too busy to attend some daytime events and meetings so she created the vice mayor role to send a representative in her place.

"The title carried no executive or legislative power," Kovarik said. "But it did make a big difference in making sure Gurnee was always represented at meetings and events or when a business or resident wanted to meet with the mayor during the day."

Horath said if Kovarik truly needed help in meeting her commitments, state law allows for a mayor to create any number of executive positions. But the law prohibits these positions from being held by a trustee, he said.

David Weinstein, who unsuccessfully ran against Hood to succeed Kovarik as mayor last year, said he felt the vice mayor role was created for political reasons.

"This was an illegal position just done to prop him up as a candidate for mayor," said Weinstein. "I'm glad that they're following the law now."

Hood said the ordinance to sunset the vice mayor post would go before the board by May, when the annual reappointment process takes place. He said he would cut the position not because it violates state law but because he hasn't had schedule conflicts with many village events.