Incumbents Keep Buffalo Grove Village Board Seats

BUFFALO GROVE, IL — Four-year seats on a village board or city council are highly coveted in local political circles. In Buffalo Grove, five candidates were vying for three of these seats Tuesday in a race involving three incumbents and two challengers.

Incumbents Joanne Johnson, Lester A. Ottenheimer, III and Andrew Stein are the projected winners, according to the Lake County Clerk's Office. They were able to hold off challenges from Mike Terson and Gowri Magati. Stein was the top vote-getter with 24.84 percent of the vote (1,685 votes) with 100 percent of precincts reporting.

Johnson, 60, has been a trustee for the past six years and has worked in non-profit public relations and marketing communications for 20.

"I am humbled and honored to have been reelected to Buffalo Grove’s Village Board for another four years," Johnson told Patch. "Our Village is on the precipice of great things to come. With another term, the voters have given me the opportunity to see many projects through to fruition."

Polls officially closed at 7 p.m. Early voting and vote-by-mail ballots are included in the total. Provisional ballots and late arriving vote-by-mail ballots are not included, according to the Lake County Clerk's Office. All results are unofficial.

There were nearly twice as many mail-in ballots cast this election compared to the 2019 consolidated election, Chief Deputy County Clerk Todd Govani in Lake County told Patch Tuesday.

Return to Patch for results as they come in. Subscribe to free News Alerts for election results.

Election officials said that more than 10,000 requests were made in March for vote-by-mail ballots, an indicator of expected good voter turnout, according to Lake County Clerk Robin O'Connor.

Lester A. Ottenheimer, III, 66, has been an attorney for 40 years.

"I am glad the voters approve of what the current board is doing for the village and am looking forward to continuing my push for economic development and to keep property taxes from increasing," Ottenheimer told Patch.

Andrew Stein, 61, was first elected as a trustee in 2011.

"I would like to thank the residents of Buffalo Grove for choosing to give me another term as one of your Village Trustees," Stein told Patch. "I am humbled by your support and I am looking forward to being part of a great team to keep Buffalo Grove moving forward."

Gowri Magati is a self-employed informational technology consultant. Mike Terson, 50, is the superintendent of communications and marketing at the Buffalo Grove Park District.

BUFFALO PARK DISTRICT BOARD (UNOPPOSED)

Incumbents Scott Jacobson (vice president) and Tracy H. Bragg (treasurer) ran unopposed for full four-year terms. Incumbent Stephen Cummins ran unopposed for an unexpired two-year term.

TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 214 (OPPOSED)

Eight candidates were competing for four seats on the Township High School District 214 Board of Education on Election Day. Buffalo Grove High School is a part of District 214.

Incumbents Mark Hineman, Mildred Palmer and Leonard Walker are projected winners in the race and will be joined by Andrea Rauch on the board. It appears Elizabeth Bauer, Richard Menninga, Tony Rosselli and Jackie Ryan came up short.

RELATED

• Buffalo Grove Voters To Decide On Village, School Board
• Buffalo Grove Voter Guide: 2021 Consolidated Elections

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