David Orr, Cook County Clerk

Incumbency big winner in Tuesday's elections 

Majority of incumbent mayors and village presidents see success
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, April 06, 2005

Unofficial election results show that 73.5 percent of incumbent and acting mayors and village presidents facing challenges in suburban Cook County won re-election Tuesday, Cook County Clerk David Orr said.
There were a total of 109 races for mayor and village president in suburban Cook County for the April 5 consolidated election, including 24 in which no incumbents appeared in a field of new candidates in contested and uncontested races.

Incumbents and “acting” village and city leaders defeated challengers in 36 of the 49 races where they competed for mayor and village president on Tuesday’s ballot, though certain uncounted provisional and absentee ballots could shift the advantage in some close contests. An additional 36 incumbents held on to their seats in uncontested races.

The rate of incumbent victories decreased only slightly from those during the last major mayoral elections in 2001, when sitting mayors and village presidents won about 81 percent of their contests. Out of 82 incumbents vying for top office four years ago, 47 faced challenges and 38 defeated their challengers.

In the April 5 consolidated election, the Clerk’s office has until 14 days after the election to count overseas and military absentee ballots and provisional ballots cast by voters whose eligibility to vote was called into question on Election Day.

A list of candidates winning contested races for mayor and village president is attached. To view complete lists of unofficial election returns, visit the Clerk’s election website, www.voterinfonet.com.


Mayors/Presidents Winning Contested Races (in suburban Cook County)
NOTE!! Results do NOT reflect votes for write-in candidates. The Clerk's office does not tally write-in votes because it does not conduct the official canvass of votes for local elections. Therefore, the certification of write-in candidates can take place only when local jurisdictions conduct their canvass of votes.
 
 Municipality   Mayor/President
± Alsip           Patrick Kitching
± Barrington   Karen Darch
± Barrington Hills  Robert G. Abboud, Jr.
± Bedford Park   David R. Brady
* Bellwood   Frank A. Pasquale
* Berkeley   Michael A. Esposito
 Berwyn Michael   A. O’Connor
* Blue Island   Donald E. Peloquin
 Broadview   Henry Vicenik
± Brookfield   Michael J. Garvey
 Burnham           Robert E. Polk
± Burr Ridge   Gary Grasso‡
* Chicago Ridge   Eugene L. Siegel
* Deerfield   Steven M. Harris
± Dixmoor           Keevan A. Grimmett
* Dolton           William Shaw
* Elk Grove Village Craig B. Johnson
* Evanston   Lorraine H. Morton
* Flossmoor   Roger G. Molski
* Ford Heights   Saul L. Beck
± Harwood Heights   Dianne H. Larson
± Hazel Crest   Robert (Bob) Donaldson
* Hoffman Estates   William D. McLeod
* Homewood   Richard A. Hofeld
* Inverness   John A. “Jack” Tatooles
* Justice           Melvin D. VanAllen, Jr.
 Kenilworth   Tolbert Chisum
 La Grange   Liz Asperger
 La Grange Park   James L. Discipio
* Lansing           Daniel R. Podgorski
* Lemont           John F. Piazza
 Lincolnwood   Gerald C. Turry
 Lynwood           Eugene “Gene” Williams
* Lyons           Marie Vachata
* Matteson   Mark W. Stricker
± Maywood           Henderson Yarbrough
* Melrose Park   Ronald M. Serpico, Sr.
 Morton Grove   Richard “Rick” Krier
 Mount Prospect   Irvana K. Wilks
± Northbrook   Eugene Marks
* North Riverside   Richard N. Scheck
± Oak Forest   Joanne Kelly
 Oak Lawn   Dave Heilmann
 Oak Park   David Pope
* Orland Hills   Kyle R. Hastings
* Palatine   Rita L. Mullins
* Palos Hills   Gerald R. Bennett
 Park Ridge   Howard P. Frimark
* Richton Park   Richard P. Reinbold
* Riverdale   Zenovia G. Evans
* River Forest   Frank M. Paris
* River Grove   Marilynn J. May
* Robbins           Irene H. Brodie
* Sauk Village   Roger Peckham
* South Barrington  Frank J. Munao, Jr.
* South Holland   Don A. DeGraff
* Steger           Louis Sherman
* Stone Park   Beniamino Mazzulla
* Summit           Joeseph W. Strzelczyk
* Thornton   Jack C. Swan
 Westchester   Paul Gattuso
± Western Springs   John J. Lynch
* Wheeling   Greg Klatecki
 Willow Springs   Alan P. Nowaczyk
 Wilmette   Christopher S. Canning

*Incumbent/Acting mayor or village president defeated challenger
±Challenger defeated incumbent
(All others were open seats)

‡ Incumbent Jo Virginia Irmen won the suburban Cook County vote, but was counted among defeats because she lost an overall vote of multiplecounties in unofficial returns.