advertisement

Mix of newcomers, seasoned candidates win party nominations for Lake County Board

A clear picture of who will represent Republicans and Democrats for Lake County Board seats in the November general election emerged Tuesday as voters narrowed the field of candidates in seven contested primary races.

Unofficial results showed a mix of newcomers and those with some political experience emerging to represent their parties in three races as there were no incumbents running.

Longtime Democratic incumbents Mary Ross Cunningham of Waukegan and Diane Hewitt of Zion, in Districts 8 and 9 respectively, weathered challenges and will represent the party in November.

And in District 1, veteran incumbent Linda Pedersen of Antioch with 2,336 votes demolished James Creighton Mitchell Jr. of Lake Villa with 916 votes for the Republican nomination.

All county board districts were redrawn following the decennial census and the number reduced from 21 to 19. That left two districts with no incumbents and shifted Hewitt, to another district.

District 2

Includes all or parts of Hawthorn Woods, Mundelein, Round Lake, Round Lake Park and Wauconda. It was only district with candidates from both parties on the ballot and no incumbent.

For Democrats, Linda Troester, a retired research biologist from Round Lake easily defeated Mundelein-area resident and Fremont Elementary School District 79 board member Shawn Killacky. Troester in her first run for elected office had 1,761 votes to Killackey's 613.

On the Republican ticket, Adam Schlick, a Wauconda Fire District battalion chief and Wauconda village trustee, with 1,232 votes easily outdistanced attorney David Spada with 847 votes and Cynthia Avino with 470 votes.

"The voters of Lake County deserve candidates who can put people over politics and I know I'll bring that to the general election," Schlick said.

District 16

In the Round Lake area, Esiah Campos had 683 votes to 591 for Yesenia Jaycee Ochoa to take the Democratic nomination. Both are Round Lake Beach residents in their first runs for public office seeking to become the first Hispanic county board member.

District 18

In one of two districts without an incumbent as a result of redistricting, Sara Frederick Knizhnik, a Vernon Hills resident and Vernon Township trustee, took the Democratic nomination with 1,613 votes to 1,044 for health care executive Akrom Hossain, a Long Grove resident and Vernon Area Public Library trustee.

District 3

Wendy Meister, a consultant from Riverwoods took the Democratic nomination with 1,719 defeating Charles "Chuck" Nozicka, a pediatric emergency physician from Green Oaks, who got 1,164 votes.

District 3 includes all or parts of Green Oaks, Gurnee, Lake Forest, Libertyville, Lincolnshire, Mettawa, Riverwoods, Vernon Hills and Waukegan.

Adam Schlick
Esiah Campos
Wendy S. Meister
Linda Troester
Sara Frederick Knizhnik
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.