Big Hinsdale Names Back Hart For Village President

HINSDALE, IL – Greg Hart, who is running for Hinsdale village president, has presented the names of 550 residents who he said support his campaign.

Among them are local government officials, business owners and those who have clashed with the incumbent village president.

"My campaign is a resident-driven campaign and every individual's support is equally important to me," Hart said in an email to Patch.

Hart, a former DuPage County Board member, said his early list of supporters came from all sides of the political aisle – Democrats, Republicans and independents.

"This is a non-partisan position and I look forward to earning the support of every Hinsdale resident in this campaign," Hart said.

The current village president, Tom Cauley, has not said whether he is running for a fifth term. Meanwhile, Luke Stifflear, a village trustee, said he is considering a bid.

On Hart's list of supporters are:

• Jeff Waters and Peggy James, both members of the Hinsdale High School District 86 board
• Kari Galassi, a DuPage County Board member and former chairwoman of the Yes for District 86 campaign, which pushed the successful passage of a $140 million tax hike referendum in 2019 for school projects (co-chair of Hart's campaign)
• Patti Bellock, former Republican state representative
• Kirk Dillard, former Republican state senator and chairman of the Regional Transportation Authority
• Gerald Hughes, a former village trustee who served with President Tom Cauley
• Laura LaPlaca, a former village trustee who lost to Cauley in the 2017 election for village president
• Michael Martin, board member for Hinsdale School District 181
• Brian and Kristine Richards, parents of Sean Patrick Richards, the 14-year-old who died after a crash next to Fuller's Car Wash. The couple have been critical of the village's handling of the situation.
• Julie Laux, founder of J Jordan Homes, who has criticized the village's Historical Preservation Commission
• Dr. Cara Hartman, a chiropractor who battled with Cauley and other officials over landscaping during the construction of her office building.
• Dr. Lanny Wilson, vice president of the DuPage County Board of Health and founder of the DuPage Railroad Safety Council (co-chair of Hart's campaign)
• Angela Lavelli, owner of Café La Fortuna and Hinsdale Economic Development Commission member
• Alicia Schemel, local leader of Moms Demand Action
• Jill Sunderson, chairwoman of The Community House's board and chairwoman of the Hinsdale Economic Development Commission
• Sam Vlahos, owner of Fuller House
• Adrian Aucoin, former professional NHL player
• Mary Buddig, attorney
• PJ Huizenga, businessman
• Taki Kastanis, founder of Yolk Restaurant Group

The village election is April 1.