April 2013 Consolidated Election: Downers Grove Voter Guide

As the filing period for the 2013 consolidated election drew to a close Dec. 26, only three races in Downers Grove were contested.

Candidates will face off April 9 for positions on the Downers Grove Village Council, Community High School District 99 Board of Education and Downers Grove Township Board. The Downers Grove Park District and Grade School District 58 races were uncontested.

Voters have five business days to file objections to candidates' nominating petitions. Per election code, a business day is designated as any day an office is open to the public for at least seven hours for accepting objections. For municipal offices that were closed on New Year’s Eve or not open for at least seven hours, the fifth business day following Dec. 26 is Jan. 4, 2013.

Here's the final list of candidates who filed by Dec. 26:

Downers Grove Village Board

Open Seats: Three trustees

Who Filed: Incumbents Robert "Bob" Barnett and Marilyn J. Schnell, and newcomers David S. Olsen, Susan Walaszek, Don Jankowski Greg Hosé

Incumbent(s) Not Running: Commissioner William Waldack

Community High School District 99 School Board

Open Seats: Four

Who Filed: Incumbents Deborah "Debbie" Boyle, Bill White, Teresa "Terry" K. Pavesich and Julia Kennedy Beckman, and newcomers Martin Gorski, Henry P. Jakobsze and Rick Pavinato

Incumbent(s) Not Running: None

Downers Grove Township

Open Seats: Eight (Supervisor, clerk, assessor, highway commissioner and four trustees)

Who Filed:

• Supervisor: Incumbent Frank Wurster (R) and Karol Ann Sole (D)
• Clerk: Laura Hois (R) and Ruth C. "Chris" Hotchkin (D)
• Assessor: Incumbent Theresa Cockrell (R)
• Highway Commissioner: Incumbent Lawrence "Andy" Anderson (R) and Christopher English (D)
• Trustees: Incumbents William J. Swanston (R), Mark D. Cuthbert (R), Kathleen Abbate (R) and Lorraine Grimsby (R), and challengers Megan McCarthy Schroeder (D) and James Boyce (D)

District 58 School Board

Open Seats: Four

Who Filed: Incumbents John D. Cooper Jr., Sallie Ann Lupescu and Roberta Diehl, and newcomer James Paul

Incumbent(s) Not Running: Board President Steve Funk

Downers Grove Park District

Open Seats: Two

Who Filed: Incumbent Matt Cushing and newcomer Damienne Colleen Souter

Incumbent(s) Not Running: Commissioner Janet Barr

Related Stories:

• Seven File for District 99 School Board; Four in District 58

• Ballot Order Set for Downers Grove Council Race; Barnett Gets Top Billing

• State Extends Local Elections Filing Deadline to 5 P.M. Dec. 26

• Two More File for Downers Grove Village Council; Field Widens to Six

• Downers Grove Commissioner William Waldack Will Not Seek Re-Election

Are you a candidate? Blog on Patch to share news, photos and opinions as you prepare for the election. Get started here or email Downers Grove Patch Editor Amanda Luevano at amanda@patch.com for more information.

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