Editorial: Every vote counts. In one Skokie trustee race, so did community and friendship.
How often do political opponents become friends? On the campaign trail, no less?
We can't think of many such instances, but have been touched by the collegiality and respect shown by Skokie board of trustees opponents Edward Olivieri and Jim Iverson.
When votes were tallied on Election Night, Olivieri came out 21 votes ahead of Iverson. Even with such a narrow margin, Iverson decided not to push for a recount.
'I know Eddie, and I know that he will do this job well,' Iverson wrote in a letter published by Pioneer Press, a sister publication, shortly after election results were tallied. 'I want to offer Eddie my gratitude. I have really enjoyed running against him and getting to know him.'
But then Iverson pulled ahead.
The numbers shifted as mail-in ballots were tallied. After conceding earlier in the month, it turned out Iverson had taken a nine-vote lead.
It would've been easy, understandable even, for Olivieri to harbor resentment over this disappointing turn, but he remained gracious and optimistic, and he extended sincere congratulations to 'my friend and opponent, Jim Iverson, on his victory.'
'During the campaign, Jim and I developed a rare and meaningful friendship,' Olivieri wrote in a letter of his own on April 17. 'We stood beside each other at events, volunteered together, and approached the race with mutual respect and collaboration. In today's political climate, that kind of camaraderie is something to be celebrated.'
We covered some nasty local races during the April 1 consolidated elections, with candidates accusing each other of racism, verbally attacking a candidate's spouse and more.
That's not what happened this spring in Skokie. In an era when political discourse so often descends into outrage and division — on cable news, in Congress, even in school board races — the quiet decency shown in Skokie feels all the more remarkable.
Instead of a contentious campaign trail marked by vitriol and mudslinging, Olivieri and Iverson showed us what's possible when candidates truly put their community first.
'It was just wonderful good fortune that Eddie and I happened to do this together, that we happened to run against one another,' Iverson told us. He will be sworn in this week.
That village is blessed by the camaraderie and support found in two fantastic trustee candidates, both of whom will no doubt work together to better their village for years to come.
Iverson and Olivieri remind us all that local politics isn't a proxy war for national partisanship — it's about community and working on behalf of our neighbors. At its very best, local politics makes our hometowns better, fostering connection, not division.
What happened in Skokie this spring is a lesson for us all on what really matters and how to carry ourselves with dignity and poise — win or lose.
Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
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