8 Candidates Vie For Arlington Heights Village Board: 2025 Election

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — As things remain fluid regarding the future of the former Arlington International Raceway site, residents are heading to the voting booth to weigh in on an important local election.

In addition to a mayoral contest, eight candidates are vying for four seats on the Arlington Heights Village Board in Tuesday's April 1 consolidated municipal elections. Current trustee Jim Bertucci will be on the ballot along with Martin Bauer, Colin Gilbert, Michele Hunter, Anargyros Karafotias, Bill Manganaro, Carina Santa Maria and Greg Zyck. Each seat is for a four-year term.

Trustee Richard Baldino told Patch last July he was not running on April 1, opening a seat. Baldino had been a trustee since 2017.

In addition, Trustee Nicolle Grasse won her race last November to represent the 53rd District in the Illinois House of Representatives. Grasse, who had been a member of the Arlington Heights Village Board since 2021, stepped into the congressional seat in July 2024 to fill Mark Walker's vacated seat. Grasse, who has been doing both roles since July, will see her term with the Arlington Heights Village Board end in April.

A fourth seat on the board opened up for the election when current Trustee Jim Tinaglia opted to run for mayor.

Ahead of the election, Arlington Heights Patch provided questionnaires to all candidates on the ballot.

Bertucci, 65, was appointed to his seat on the Village Board in May 2021. He is a financial planner and investment advisor. According to the Village of Arlington Heights website, Bertucci says his philosophy as an elected official is to "represent the residents and business owners honestly and fairly by listening to their needs, along with the recommendations by the staff, and then making fiscally responsible decisions on policies and budgeting using my critical thinking and collaboration skills."

Bauer, 54, has been an actuary and insurance executive for the past 29 years.

"Currently, the most pressing issue for Arlington Heights is to find the right path forward for the bigger development opportunities, with none bigger than Arlington Park," Bauer said in his Patch questionnaire. "This will require a combination of vision and patience. While the opportunities are significant, so are the risks."

Gilbert, a founding partner of Drost, Gilbert, Andrew and Apicella, has been practicing law in the Illinois and Federal court system for almost 20 years. He is the former owner of Tuscan Market and Wine Shop, a past president of the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce, former Village Commissioner, and current AHYAA Board Member, according to his profile. He has been endorsed by current Mayor Thomas Hayes.

Hunter has 20 years of experience as a lawyer with a background in municipal law, according to her election website. She is a member of the Rotary of Arlington Heights and a committee volunteer for Frontier Days.

Karafotias owns and manages Golden Brunch in Arlington Heights. According to his website, he immigrated to the United States 15 years ago. Karafotias is being endorsed by Hayes.

Manganaro is a manager of client counseling at Health Care Service Corporation.

"Any Bears stadium development must be fiscally net positive for the Village," Manganaro said on his website. "It must be a privately funded stadium. If the Bears build a stadium, the Village is responsible for providing needed infrastructure, as it is with any development. Property taxes from this development must exceed the cost of construction, maintenance, and replacement over time."

Santa Maria is a CEO and licensed clinical social worker. She also weighed in on the future of Arlington Park.

"Whether or not the Chicago Bears build their stadium, the village must ensure that any development maximizes economic benefits while prioritizing community needs," Santa Maria said in her Patch questionnaire. "The challenge lies in attracting the right mix of businesses, housing, and entertainment that will enhance Arlington Heights while preserving its character."

Zyck works is a sales and marketing executive in manufacturing. He has been on the board of trustees for the Arlington Heights Memorial Library since 2013, serving as president for four years and treasurer for four years. Zyck has also spent six years on Village of Arlington Heights Housing Commission.

"First of all, let me state that I am a huge Bears fan and would love to see them here," Zyck said on his website. "We have to do it correctly, though. I worry about issues such as traffic, housing values, what it does to the current downtown in AH, and how it affects us all financially. If they decide to come here, there will be many discussions and nuances that we have to consider."

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