Election day in Lake County features dozens of contested races; ‘Local elections have more impact on people's lives'

Chicago Tribune

31-03-2025

Waukegan and North Chicago voters will have the opportunity to make history when they go to the polls in the 2025 general election on Tuesday.
In Waukegan, voters will decide whether the city will reelect a mayor for the first time in 28 years or extend the string of one-term mayors to 32 years. In North Chicago, the people have the opportunity to keep the city's longest-serving chief executive in office for another four years.
Lake County voters will pick their municipal and township officials as well as park district, library and school board members between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday at their preferred polling place or any other location within the county.
Countywide, there are 333 separate elections for candidates for office, of which 91 are contested. There are also referendums for voters in Winthrop Harbor School District 1 and the Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District.
Though nearly 73% of the elections throughout the county are uncontested, Lake County Clerk Anthony Vega said people should vote because there is at least one choice on the ballot for all of them.
'There is the College of Lake County,' Vega said, referring to the school's Board of Trustees. 'Library boards and school districts have larger boundaries. Some are in several towns. I did my homework and will cast my ballot accordingly.'
As of Sunday night, Vega said 14,501 people voted early and 18,626 vote-by-mail ballots were returned. He expects a countywide turnout of between 13% and 14%. Though turnout was much higher in the November presidential election, local races are more crucial to people's everyday lives, he said.
'Local elections have more impact on people's lives,' Vega said. 'They affect public safety, garbage pickup, the schools, the libraries.'
Voters can go to their preferred polling place Tuesday or, Vega said, new this year they can go to any voting location within the county. To learn their preferred polling place, county residents can use the website, LakeVoterPower.info.
Weather is expected to be cooler than normal on Tuesday, but no snow or rain is expected, according to the National Weather Service. The temperature will be around 32 degrees when the polls open, and rise into the low 40s through the day.
Waukegan Mayor Ann Taylor hopes to be the first chief executive of the city to be reelected since then-Mayor Bill Durkin did it in 1997. Former Mayor Sam Cunningham, who Taylor ousted four years ago, hopes to return to office.
Along with Cunningham and Taylor, voters can also pick Ald. Keith Turner, 6th Ward, or former Ald. Harold Beadling, 4th Ward.
North Chicago Mayor Leon Rockingham Jr. is seeking his sixth term in office in a race against Ald. Anthony Coleman, 2nd Ward, and community activist David Hood. Rockingham became the city's longest-serving mayor when he surpassed former Mayor Bobby Thompson's 18-year mark during his current term, according to city records.
Gurnee Mayor Tom Hood is seeking a second term against Village Trustee Quin O'Brian. O'Brien was first elected in 2019 and reelected in 2023. Hood is an attorney. O'Brien started an internet-based real estate business in 2000 and is now semi-retired.
Among the other election contests in Lake County, there are eight contested elections for mayors or village presidents. In Grayslake and Mundelein, the incumbent is not seeking reelection, while in the other six there is a challenge to the sitting leader.
Fox Lake Village President Donald Schmit is being challenged by Sean Stochi, while Island Lake Mayor Richard McLaughlin is in a three-way race with Trustee Stacey Pyne and Brian Bartnick.
Libertyville Village President Donna Johnson is facing Trustee Matthew Hickey for the top job there. In Round Lake, Village President Russell Kraly is competing against Trustee Brian Brubaker to keep his seat.
Round Lake Park Mayor Linda Lucassen is facing Robert Seminary to be the town's leader. In Winthrop Harbor, Mayor Michael Bruno is locked in a race with Trustee Robert Marabella to keep his job.
Mundelein Trustees Tim Wilson and Robin Meier hope to replace Mayor Steve Lentz, who is not seeking re-election. With longtime Grayslake Mayor Rhett Taylor not seeking another term, Trustee Elizabeth Davies and Jeffrey Loffredo hope to be the new leader.
Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 Board of Education members Jeff McBride and Anita Hanna are seeking re-election in a seven-way race with five other candidates. They are Angela Ramirez, Tanyea Curry, Nicholas Shepherd, Randy Sobecki and Michael Rodriguez.