What many thought was impossible happened Tuesday night in Mt. Prospect. By dint of organization and name recognition from 16 years of public service, Mayor Gerald “Skip” Farley won a write-in campaign for re-election.
Meanwhile, two mayors whose names were on the ballot in other northwest suburbs went down to defeat–four-term Mayor Sheila Schultz in Wheeling and first-term Mayor Ted Sherwood in Des Plaines.
In Des Plaines, Paul Jung, a college teacher well known from his days as the local elementary school superintendent, defeated Sherwood. And in Wheeling, Greg Klatecki, president of the Wheeling Park District Board and a teacher at Holmes Middle School, ousted Schultz.
Farley turned a Cook County judge’s decision to remove his name from the ballot into a rallying cry that carried him to victory with 48 percent of the vote in a three-man race.
“I think the write-in victory says a lot for Mt. Prospect,” Farley said. “They did not want some questionable court decision to rob them of their right to elect a candidate of their choice.”
Farley defeated George Clowes, who received 38 percent of the vote, and Ernest Lasse, who successfully challenged Farley’s nominating petitions but received only 14 percent of the vote.
“I think the write-in campaign hurt me because it gave him a lot more publicity,” Clowes said of Farley. “He had very few issues to run on. His platform was relatively lackluster.”
Running a successful write-in campaign, even with high name recognition from eight years as mayor and eight years as a village trustee, required more volunteers than a normal campaign, Farley said.
Among the supporters at his headquarters were Dana Solt, who baby-sat for a neighbor’s children so the neighbor could vote, and Solt’s wife, Mimi, who handed out information instructing voters on correctly marking a write-in ballot.
But Clowes’ camp alleged that Farley supporters went too far by carrying their efforts into polling places.
“I know nothing about that,” Farley said.
In Des Plaines, Jung was the top vote-getter in a field of four, defeating Sherwood with the help of the man that Sherwood ousted four years ago, former Mayor Michael Albrecht.
It was a bitter campaign, with Jung, Sherwood and Richard Ornberg, who came in second, concentrating on personal jabs.
Asked Tuesday night whether he would call Jung to concede or congratulate him, Sherwood said: “I have no intention to call him. The wounds and hatred for Jung are much too deep.”
With all precincts counted, Jung was the winner with 33 percent of the vote, followed by Ornberg, Sherwood and Ald. Carmen Sarlo (6th).
“It is overwhelming,” Jung said. “I always had faith we could do this. It shows all I stand for in quality and open government. Enough people wanted change and thought Paul Jung could do it.”
Ornberg said he considered the election a victory because Sherwood, whom he had accused of harassing senior citizens about minor housing code violations, had been defeated.
“If we had to lose to someone, I am glad it was to Paul,” Ornberg said.
Sarlo said he would continue as an alderman and would have no trouble working with a new mayor. He already has worked with six other mayors.
In Wheeling, Schultz’s bid for another term was short-circuited by Klatecki.
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“My sense is that some people thought they needed a change,” said Schultz. “People who are well-satisfied–and Wheeling residents are well-satisfied–perhaps don’t come out and vote as do those who are looking for a change. I have no regrets.”
Said Klatecki: “Nine hundred votes is a very clear mandate, and the people were a little aggravated with the direction the village was going. I am sure a lot of the voters were in favor of change.”
Although Schultz’s supporters were confused about what had gone wrong, some blamed the campaign’s negative tone for the outcome.
Some supporters said Klatecki had a enormous task ahead of him to mend the rift created in the community.
A third candidate for Wheeling mayor, Village Board member Judy Abruscato, had accused Schultz of failing to do enough to bring more businesses into Wheeling.
In Elk Grove Village, Trustee Craig Johnson appeared on his way to defeating fellow trustee Paul Rettburg in the race for mayor. Village President Dennis Gallitano chose not to run for a second term.
Revitalization of an industrial park is the major project under way in the Elk Grove Village.
In North Barrington, Village President George Larrain appeared to have beaten back a challenge from Village Board member Scott Payne. Their race had turned on a new mall that had been proposed for the semirural community. Larrain had supported the controversial project before the Village Board recently rejected it.