Voters in Long Grove will have major decisions to make during the April municipal election, as a political slate, which swept through the local election two years ago, tries to broaden its numbers.
Running unopposed for village president, current trustee Bill Jacob is vying for the top elected post in Long Grove alongside three newcomers, who are running for village trustee seats under the slate called Voice of Long Grove
With a platform focused on economic development, Jacob secured a trustee spot during the 2015 election while running for the first time as part of Voice of Long Grove, which featured at the time Stan Borys — an incumbent — and Michael Sarlitto.
The group easily defeated one incumbent and captured three village board seats overall leaving the board fractured in the nearly two years that followed. As another local election approaches, Voice of Long Grove members could occupy five of six village board seats and the village president spot once votes are tallied April 4.
Jacob also would have the authority after the election as village president to appoint a replacement to his trustee spot on the village board.
But two other candidates for village trustee running independently could disrupt Voice of Long Grove’s efforts to secure a strong majority on the village board, depending on how voters decide the contested race.
“We’re doing all the right things,” Jacob said. “I wouldn’t hit the brakes on anything we’re doing.”
The three newcomers joining Jacob this year under Voice of Long Grove are real estate agents Rita O’Connor and Bobbie O’Reilly, and Anne Kritzmire, who works as managing director of strategy and marketing at Nuveen Investments.
First-time candidate Pat Tode, a retired Chicago police detective, is running independently, as well as incumbent John Marshall.
Current trustees George Yaeger and Lori Lyman, along with Village President Angie Underwood all decided against re-election bids.
Two years ago, the three candidates with Voice of Long Grove ran on a platform of economic development, as well as the proposal to turn the old covered bridge in downtown Long Grove into a wider two-lane road.
The debate over the covered bridge should carry into the April election since village officials have said a decision on the bridge likely will be made later this year.
Long Grove business leaders and other residents also recently added to the debate, circulating a petition to garner support for the preservation of the covered bridge.
With the issue of business development, officials haven’t done enough recently to attract development projects, Marshall said.
The incumbent trustee, who owns a construction company, said he can lend his expertise to bring more economic activity to Long Grove.
“My hope has always been to better the village and give us a better reputation with developers,” Marshall said. “We’ve always been tough with developers.”
If elected trustee, Tode said he would explore the idea of creating a village-controlled police agency since deputies with the Lake County Sheriff’s office only patrol the village part time as part of an agreement.
Tode praised the work of sheriff’s deputies but said if the costs are right, a local police force could help Long Grove in the long run.
“The contract with the sheriff is minimalistic,” he said.
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As for the newcomers with Voice of Long Grove, Kritzmire said she agreed to run after volunteering for years with Sarlitto in the job-mentoring group Venturing.
She said she hoped to diversify the village’s revenue base, which relies heavily on sales tax receipts from Menard’s and Sunset Foods. She also would like to re-engage residents and encourage them to contribute ideas for when village officials meet to update the long-term comprehensive in Long Grove later this year.
“I’m a big fan of transparent communication and I’d like to see more proactive communication,” Kritzmire said.
O’Reilly said she decided to run for a trustee spot to make sure Long Grove doesn’t become overdeveloped.
“I’m not suggesting it’s at our doorstep. It’s not,” she said. “But it could be.”
If elected, one of her primary objectives on the village board, she said, would be to make it easy for walkers and bicyclists to reach the downtown area.
“I’d like people to be able to get there by foot or bike, if they want to,” O’Connor said.
Twitter @RonnieAtPioneer