Highland Park Election Results: Few Votes Separate Council Candidates

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Polls are closed in portions of Highland Park Tuesday, as voters are set to elect a trio of residents to four-year terms on the City Council.

According to unofficial election results, which do not include provisional and late arriving mail ballots, newcomer Jeff Hoobler was the top vote-getter among five candidates campaigning for the seat.

The next four candidates were all within about 200 votes of one another, leaving the race too close to call.

Election Day voting was disrupted at three local polling places that were were placed in lockdown status due to a report of a student with a gun at Highland Park High School.

Lake County Clerk Anthony Vega petitioned courts to extend voting hours at Braeside Elementary School, Red Oak Elementary School and the Highland Park Public Libraries.

As a result, all three were permitted to remain open for an additional 95 minutes. Vega said results would not begin to be uploaded until after the last polling places close at 8:35 p.m.

Mayor Nancy Rotering is running unopposed for a fourth term. Local school board and park district races are likewise uncontested.

But there was a competitive race for City Council on the ballot, with five candidates running for three open seats.

Unofficial Highland Park City Council 2023 Election Results

• Jeff Hoobler — 2,546 — 22%
• Tony Blumberg — 2,275 — 19%
• Yumi Ross — 2,205 — 19 %
• Adam Stolberg — 2,136 — 18%
• Kelly Nichols — 2,040 — 17%

*Results as of April 7. As of April 10, there were more than 3,000 uncounted provisional and mailed-in votes across the county. The clerk's office is scheduled to finish the count April 18 and certify the results April 20.

Read More: Two Candidates Set To Miss Out On Highland Park City Council Seats

Incumbents Tony Blumberg and Adam Stolberg sought re-election, as Michelle Holleman declined to pursue another term on the council, opening up a seat for at least one newcomer to the City Council.

The three challengers on the ballot were: Jeff Hoobler, the co-owner of Ravinia Brewing Company, BWB Shakes and CN Realty; Kelly Nichols, the senior manager of policy with the Respiratory Health Association and co-owner of Even Made and 2 Ladies and Ladder; and Yumi Ross, an architect, board president of The Art Center Highland Park and a former North Shore District 112 school board member.

Read more:

• Tony Blumberg: Highland Park City Council Candidate Profile
• Jeff Hoobler: Highland Park City Council Candidate Profile
• Kelly Nichols: Highland Park City Council Candidate Profile
• Yumi Ross: Highland Park City Council Candidate Profile
• Adam Stolberg: Highland Park City Council Candidate Profile