Daniel Sullivan, already headed for the Wilmette Village Board as an unopposed candidate in April’s municipal election, has joined it a few months early.
Village Manager Tim Frenzer swore Sullivan in at the board’s Feb. 10 meeting, allowing the former Zoning Board of Appeals chairman to fill the seat left vacant when Trustee Mike Basil stepped down on Jan. 27.
Basil, who was already scheduled to step down in April after finishing his final four-year term, made the leap early after accepting a position in Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration.
The six remaining board members unanimously approved Village President Bob Bielinski’s appointment. Bielinski indicated last month that he would probably appoint Sullivan or another new incoming trustee, Senta Plunkett, to fill the vacancy. Trustee Julie Wolf is running unopposed for her second and final term in April.
Both Sullivan and Plunkett were running unopposed for seats to be vacated by Basil and retiring Trustee Alan Swanson. Both were also serving on a Wilmette advisory board from which they must resign in order to take the Village Board dais.
Bielinski said Plunkett, who is currently on the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, told him she wants to complete her term with that group in order to complete ongoing projects, rather than take her trustee position early.
Sullivan’s early appointment meant Bielinski had to move quickly to fill the resulting ZBA vacancy. He named current ZBA member Patrick Duffy as its new chairman, and also announced the appointment of William Merci to the panel to keep its membership at full strength.
Sullivan’s swearing-in also occasioned some ribbing at his expense from Trustee Ted McKenna.
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“I’m just disappointed that he didn’t have to go through a more vigorous campaign,” McKenna joked.
“My recollection, Trustee McKenna, is that your last campaign wasn’t that vigorous either,” Bielinski retorted. McKenna, whose second term started in 2013, was unopposed in that run.
Step up to the dais
Who: Daniel Sullivan
New position: Wilmette village trustee
Old Position: chairman, Zoning Board of Appeals
Sworn in: Feb. 10