2019 Elections Results: One Tinley Park Sweeps Trustee Race

TINLEY PARK, IL — In a surprise upset that boosted an entrenched political party from power, One Tinley Park candidates swept all three trustee seats up for election.

"We couldn't have done it without you," party founder Michael Glotz said to supporters who gathered to hear his victory declaration.

In a less surprising move, voters also soundly turned down a Park District measure that would have increased the corporate tax rate to raise money for debt repayment and capital improvement and maintenance projects.

SEE THE RESULTS

TRUSTEE RACE
One Tinley Park took the three open seats for trustee that had been sought by eight candidates — three on the Concerned Citizens for Tinley Park slate, three on One Tinley's slate, and two independents, Brian Godlewski and Jeff Mech.

None of the three One Tinley Park slate members —Diane Galante, Michael Mueller and William Brennan — have held office before. They ousted incumbents Michael Pannitto and John Curran, along with newcomer John McGuire, who ran on the party backed by Mayor Jacob Vandenberg, Concerned Citizens for Tinley Park.

"I voted for them because they have transparency and they believe in doing what's best for this town," said Karen Tabola, a 33-year Tinley resident.

Concerned Citizens for Tinley Park said it would release a statement but has not yet done so.

Curran, who lost his bid for trustee, stopped by the party's celebration at Cavallini's On The Park to congratulate the winners. He vowed to help them in the future.

The two parties campaigned hard this year, raining flyers on neighborhoods, flooding social media and knocking on doors to get out a message that at times took a negative turn. Major issues are at stake this term, including downtown redevelopment, the rebuilding of the former mental health center site and overcoming the stigma of settling a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit over a low-income housing project the village killed in 2017.

PARK DISTRICT REFERENDUM
The Park District had asked voters to approve raising the corporate tax rate by 7 cents to about 35 cents per $100 of equalized assessed valuation. The money was intended to pay down bond debt and to raise funds for capital improvements and maintenance projects. Officials say that no matter how residents vote, tax bills will go down because if the measure is voted down, the park district will borrow money for those purposes.

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PAST COVERAGE OF THE ELECTION SEASON

The campaign
With Tight Races Tuesday, Will Tinley Voters Head To The Polls?
Foul Words, 'Good Things': How Tinley Candidates Get You To Vote
Tinley Cancels Board Meeting Amid 'Flu,' Ugly Political Season
Tinley Mayor Vandenberg Explains Why Board Meeting Was Canceled

Mental health center
One Tinley Park Releases Vision For Mental Health Center Site
TP Candidate Godlewski Releases Vision For Mental Health Center
Candidate Mech On Mental Health Center Site: Think Solar, Green

Campaign contributions
Campaign Cash Shows Relationship Between Donors, Government
Tinley Trustee Pannitto: Donations 'Not A Factor' In Board Votes
One Tinley Park's Campaign Cash Gives CCTP Run For Its Money