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

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — There will be at least one new face joining the Highland Park City Council following Tuesday's municipal elections, as two incumbents and three newcomers contest three open seats.

Races for mayor, park district and local school boards are not contested this year.

The five candidates include for City Council include the city's longest serving councilmember and the only practicing attorney in the race, Tony Blumberg, who also would be the only member of the council over the age of 65 if he is reelected to a fourth term.

Blumberg said he had not been planning on running for another term, but following the July 4, 2022, mass shooting he was urged to stay on the City Council, he said in response to a Patch candidate questionnaire.

"I determined that my continued service on the Council would be a steadying influence," Blumberg said. "Continuity is important to maintain stability in our community and in our government. I have been recognized as a moderating and thoughtful voice when addressing divisive issues."

Blumberg noted that he has been endorsed by every mayor that has known him during his tenure, even though he has disagreed with each of them at one time or another.

Related: Tony Blumberg: Highland Park City Council Candidate Profile

The other incumbent councilmember in the race is Adam Stolberg, a property manager who was first elected to a half-term in 2017 and is now running for a second four-year term on the board.

Stolberg, who previously served as a chairman and member of the city's Plan and Design Commission, touted his experience as a "driving force in changing our zoning to reflect the needs of our City for today and in the future" in response to a Patch candidate questionnaire.

He said he worked extensively with the Albion Company to make sure their multifamily residential developments were good for the city.

Stolberg also said he would have never imagined that his responsibilities on the City Council would include dealing with a mass shooting.

"I have worked diligently to ensure support systems are in place and will continue to be in place for years to come for those who lost loved ones, those who were physically injured and those emotionally scarred by this horrific event," Stolberg said.

Related: Adam Stolberg: Highland Park City Council Candidate Profile

Three challengers are also in this year's race for a seat on the Highland Park City Council. They include a small business owner, a lobbyist for a nonprofit and an architect.

Jeff Hoobler, a former engineer and real estate broker who moved to Highland Park a decade ago and established Ravinia Brewing Company in 2015, has portrayed himself as "the candidate of change." He is the only candidate that Rotering did not endorse.

"If the voters want change, and being the change candidate means not getting the Mayor’s endorsement, then the choice is clear," Hoobler said in response.

Hoobler said the city needs to attract new businesses, help existing businesses and focus on public safety. In response to a Patch candidate questionnaire, he said he has been a driving force in multiple North Shore events, including Food Truck Thursdays, The Lot, Fall Fest, The Port Clinton Art Festival, Taste of Highland Park, Taco Fest, Winnetka Festival and more.

"I know how to bring vibrancy to our community," Hoobler said. "and I will offer fresh ideas to the City."

Related: Jeff Hoobler: Highland Park City Council Candidate Profile

Kelly Nichols, a senior manager of policy and advocacy for the Respiratory Health Association in Chicago and co-owner of two small businesses, has spent the past seven years as the appointed chair of the city's Sustainability Advisory Group.

"Of the three non-incumbent candidates, I have more expertise in municipal, state, and federal policy and lawmaking," Nichols said.

Nichols said she would bring innovative ideas as a working parent, business owner, community organizer and policy expert, bringing a perspective formed by a decade working on issues of climate, energy and health, according to her answers to a Patch candidate questionnaire.

"I will reduce municipal greenhouse gas emissions while saving the city money, and ensure that the city and its supporting infrastructure are able to withstand the worst impacts of climate change," Nichols said.

Related: Kelly Nichols: Highland Park City Council Candidate Profile

Yumi Ross, an architect and former North Shore School District 112 board member, is running for City Council for the third time in four years.

Ross described herself as a longtime advocate for the environment and a passionate supporter of the arts in her responses to a Patch candidate questionnaire. She is the president of the board of the Art Center Highland Park and sits on the boards of the education foundations for District 112 and Township High School District 113 as well as Family Service of Lake County.

"I will bring a design-eye to city projects which is important because the city invests millions of dollars in infrastructure and facilities and approves large developments," Ross said.

Related: Yumi Ross: Highland Park City Council Candidate Profile

Video: League of Women Voters of Highland Park and Highwood's Highland Park City Council Candidates Forum