Wilmette Village President Bob Bielinski has appointed village resident George Pearce to an interim position as a Village Board member, filling the seat of former board member Steve Leonard and bringing the number of board members to its full seven-person tally.
Leonard resigned in March, after less than a year on the board, after accepting a job in Michigan. The board has operated with six members since then.
Bielinski said that his priority for Leonard’s interim replacement was a former board member who could quickly move into the position.
“I know he’ll do a good job, that he will take it seriously and be conscientious,” Bielinski said.
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Pearce is expected to take his seat May 8, after board members officially approve Bielinski’s appointment.
Bielinski said Pearce will serve until April 2019, the time of the next municipal election. At that time candidates can compete to complete the rest of Leonard’s term, which runs until April 2021.
Because Wilmette limits board members to two four-year terms, Pearce will not be able to run for the position.
Pearce, a partner at the Chicago law firm of Holland and Knight, was a two-term board member, serving from 1997 and 2005, Bielinski said. Prior to that, he served on the Zoning Board of Appeals from 1994 to 1997. He most recently served on Wilmette’s Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, and was its chairman.
He has lived in Wilmette since 1986 and was named Wilmette Person of the Year in 2016 by the village’s human relations commission.
He previously served on the District 39 Educational Foundation and on the Metra Citizens Advisory Board.
“I enjoy being of service. It’s easy to serve in Wilmette,” Pearce said.