Ela Library Appoints New Trustee

Jennie Stanonik will be sworn in as trustee for the Ela Area Public Library District during the Board of Trustees meeting on February 21. She fills the vacant seat left by former Trustee Anne Hurst who resigned in November to fill a vacancy on the Hawthorn Woods Village Board.

Jennie is a former Library Trustee, having last served in 2021, and will fill the seat temporarily for the months of February, March and April 2023. Filling the Trustee position temporarily is mandated by a new state law that took effect last year requiring library districts to fill vacancies within 90 days or the State Librarian will appoint someone.

At the April 4, 2023 election there are six candidates vying for four open seats. Current Trustees Crystal Steker and Kathy Caudill are running for reelection for four-year terms; newcomers Tracy Suykerbuyk and Jeannine Nasca are running for four-year terms; and newcomers Alicia Timm and Lisa Stankus are running for the two-year term vacated by Trustee Hurst's resignation. With multiple candidates on the ballot, the Board of Trustees chose to appoint Trustee Stanonik, who is not a candidate in the April election, and will let the voters decide who will best advocate for patrons and library services in the future.

Library Board President Crystal Steker expressed, "On behalf of the entire Board of Trustees, I want to thank Jennie for stepping forward. Her prior experience as a trustee and her love of the library will provide a seamless transition until the election in April. I also want to thank former Trustee Hurst for her service. We are indeed fortunate that we live in a community where so many people are willing to share their expertise and time."