Empty Seats, Unchallenged Incumbents As Ballot Set For April 2025 Elections In Wilmette

WILMETTE, IL — Even though this month's election is barely certified, the ballot is already finalized for the next one in Wilmette.

In the upcoming municipal elections, some candidates are set to face tough challenges while others are destined to cruise to victory unopposed.

On the April 1, 2025, ballot: seats on the Wilmette Village Board and the school boards of Avoca School District 37, Wilmette School District 39 and New Trier School District 203.

Wilmette Village President Senta Plunkett is unopposed in her bid for a second four-year term presiding over the board.

Three village trustee positions are being contested. Trustee Kathy Dodd is not running for another term, but the two other incumbents with expiring terms — Kate Gjaja and Justin Sheperd — are.

Local attorney Mike Lieber, Zoning Board of Appeals member Ryrie Pellaton and former District 39 board member Mark Steen round out the field of five candidates competing for the trio of trustee's seats.

There are four candidates running for four seats on the New Trier school board. Keith Dronen is not running for reelection, so incumbents Kimberly Alcantara, Avik Das and Sally Tomlinson will likely be joined by Wilmette resident Joo Serk Lee.

In Avoca School District 37, five of the seven seats are open this year.

Three incumbents are running — Gil Gibori, Dan Seals and Yoav Sharon — as are newcomers Jared Branahl, Carolyn Cole and Lauren Rivera-Haire.

And the District 39 board has four open seats but only three candidates on the ballot. Incumbent Judith Berlin is seeking reelection, to be joined by newcomers Kristin de Castro and Katherine Hilton.

Current board members Anne Hart, Jon Cesaretti, and Lisa Schneider-Fabes, whose terms expire in 2025, are not running for another term, leaving the board without a declared candidate for the fourth open seat.

While the ballot has been finalized, prospective write-in candidates have until Feb. 2 to file the necessary paperwork to have votes counted in their names.

If no write-in candidates in District 39 receive votes, the board will appoint its own seventh member to fill the vacant seat.