Unofficial results are in for five contested raced in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff.
With all five precincts reporting, Joy Markee had 72 percent of the vote for Lake Bluff Village Clerk, while Sarah Raymoure Wnek had about 27 percent of the vote, according to the Lake County Clerk’s website. All results are unofficial until confirmed, and do not include vote-by-mail ballots.
Asked what factors led to her win, Markee said it was getting out in the community.
“Being on the Fourth of July committee,” Markee said. “Also having children in the three schools. I interact with a lot of parents, I think those two things helped me the most.”
In the Lake Bluff Village trustee race, Bill Meyer had about 26 percent of the vote, Eric Grenier had about 29 percent, Aaron Towle had about 23 percent and Kate Briand had about 20 percent, with all precincts reporting, according to the website. Four candidates ran for three seats.
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For second ward alderman on the Lake Forest City Council, Melanie Rummel received about 74 percent of the vote, while Paul Hamman trailed with about 25 percent, with all precincts reporting, according to the website.
“I think my message certainly got across,” Rummel said the morning after the election. “I will hold fast to promises I made during campaign, the primary one being I want input from residents of my ward. I want to meet with them and hear from them.”
In Lake Forest District 67, the four candidates recommended by the Lake Forest Caucus were ahead with all 16 precincts reporting, according to the Lake County Clerk’s website. Board president Mike Borkowski had about 21 percent of the vote, Robert Lemke had about 22 percent, Alice LeVert had about 21 percent, Jeffrey Folker had about 18 percent and Patrick Patt had about 15 percent, it said. Four candidates ran for five seats.
“Three years ago, we did a formal vision process with community engagement,” Mike Borkowski said on April 5. “We’ve been working to achieve that over the last three years while being fiscally responsible with the taxpayer money. My goal of being elected is I want to push forward to achieve that vision.”
On election day, The Gloria Dei Center at Woodlands Academy had a steady flow of voters in the mid-afternoon. Among them was Elizabeth Sebesta, an insurance agent who said she was inspired to vote “because I have issues with School District 67.”
In contrast, Suzanne Laundry said she voted because of “our precinct committeeman from East Lake Forest.”
Becki Jo Miranda, a teacher in Libertyville, said she was particularly interested in the voting for the board of education races for Districts 67 and 115.
But not everyone asked was interested in a particular race. At the Gorton Community Center, when Ben Cleveland was asked why he voted, he simply responded, “Citizen. I want to vote.”
Resident Judith Reid said, “I have the right to vote. I’m going to use it every time.”
If elected, Rummel said she wants to work on issues including: how long housing is on the market, better connections between all taxing bodies that impact residential property tax bills, more express trains serving Lake Forest and the increasing cost of police and firefighter pensions.
In District 67, those elected may have to deal with investments in aging buildings or decisions by the General Assembly that impact school funding.
In District 115, eight candidates ran for four seats on the board of education. Four candidates received the endorsement of the Lake Forest Caucus: Sally Davis, Dave Lane, Robert “Ted” Moorman and Tomas Nemickas. The other four candidates ran as the Lake Forest Citizen’s Committee: Jennifer Neubauer, Lisa Mienville, Patrick Marshall and Cindy Good.
The number of races was noted by Alderman George Pandaleon during an April 3 meeting of the Lake Forest City Council. In past elections, many people didn’t vote because races are uncontested, he said.
“I think it’s extremely important for people to vote,” Pandaleon said.
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