Downers Grove 2021 Election: Village, School Board Races

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — Downers Grove voters will head to the polls Tuesday, April 6, to choose new members for the Downers Grove Village Council, Downers Grove Grade School District 58 and Community High School District 99.

Here's some information about the races and candidates, in addition to some facts about Election Night in DuPage County.

Downers Grove Village Council

Six candidates are vying for three seats that are open on the Downers Grove Village Council. Below, you'll find each candidate listed in alphabetical order by last name, along with some information about each candidate.

Margaret "Marge" Earl

Incumbent candidate Margaret "Marge" Earl was first appointed to the Downers Grove Village Council in 2016. Earl served as a member of the village's Zoning Board of Appeals from 2007 through 2016, according to her profile on the Village of Downers Grove website. She became chair of that board in 2015.

Earl was a member of the Downers Grove Comprehensive Planning Ad Hoc Committees in 2010 and 2016. She also served as a member of the 2007 Ad Hoc Housing Committee.

Earl has lived in Downers Grove's Hummer Park neighborhood with her husband and daughter since 1992.

Read Earl's village council profile here.

Chris Gilmartin

Chris Gilmartin has been a resident of Downers Grove for the past 16 years. He lives with his wife and three children. Gilmartin is the CEO and founder of Lever Interactive and Coming of Age. He has served on the Downers Grove Human Services Ad Hoc Committee.

In his Patch candidate profile, Gilmartin wrote, "Without question, the most pressing issue facing our village is the COVID-19 pandemic." He went on, "The impact on the physical and mental health of residents is immeasurable, and I fear the economic impact on our Village has only just begun."

Gilmartin said he plans to focus on "driving economic growth" and "supporting services for residents," if elected.

Find Chris Gilmartin's Patch candidate profile and campaign website.

Danny Glover

Danny Glover has been a lifelong resident of Downers Grove. He owns and operates Skuddlebutts Pizza and Catering, Party People Rental Company, and Ogden and Douglas Commercial Properties. He is married to Sabrina, his high school sweetheart from Downers Grove North, according to his campaign website.

In his Patch candidate profile, Glover wrote that he believes "[l]oss of revenue due to COVID-19" is the most pressing issue Downers Grove is facing. Glover suports helping local businesses "recover from lost revenue," in addition to finding " new and additional avenues of revenue."

He added, "We must do these things to avoid cuts in other vital areas including public safety and storm water management, which is and has been at the forefront of our of the Council for many years."

View Danny Glover's Patch Candidate Profile and campaign website.

Greg Hose

Incumbent candidate Greg Hose has served on the Downers Grove Village Council since 2013. He has also served on the Environmental Concerns Commission and the Plan Commission, in addition to serving as Mayor Pro Tem. Hose is an attorney with Gregorio & Marco, Ltd.; he lives near Downers Grove's Hummer Park with his wife and two daughters.

In his Patch Candidate Profile, Hose wrote that the "ongoing pandemic" is the most pressing issue facing Downers Grove "[l]ike every municipal government. Hose added that he has "worked hard with partners in village government to maintain essential services, so residents don't lose anything."

Hose wrote, "Now the challenge is to build both sustainable budgets and the necessary reserves for long-term resiliency."

View Greg Hose's Patch Candidate Profile and campaign website.

Tammi Karam

Tammi Karam lives in Downers Grove with her family. She has been the owner of Humidor of Downers Grove for the past 16 years, according to her LinkedIn profile. Karam's Patch Candidate Profile states that she has held "leadership roles within the Chamber of Commerce, my parish, and local non-profits."

According to her Patch Candidate Profile, Karam believes funding is the most pressing issue facing Downers Grove. She added, "Due to the changing economy, we must look for other sources of funding capital projects, as well as personal needs."

Karam went on to say she intends to be "fiscally conservative and continue to look for ways to reduce our costs while looking at new sources of income."

View Tammi Karam's Patch candidate profile and campaign page.

Andrew Pelloso

Andrew Pelloso has been a Downers Grove resident since 2011. He currently lives in the village with his wife and daughter, according to his campaign website. Pelloso has worked as an environmental policy analyst for 27 years.

Pelloso believes village funding is the most pressing issue facing Downers Grove, per his Patch Candidate questionnaire. Pelloso mentions that Downers Grove has "operated under flat to nearly flat budgets, with austerity the primary means of achieving budgetary balance." He added, "We cannot tighten our belt any further. If we value our police and our Village services, the time has come to make the hard choices. And I'm ready, willing, and able to work with those committed to doing that."

View Andrew Pelloso's Patch candidate profile and Pelloso's campaign website.

Downers Grove Grade School District 58

Four candidates are vying for four spots on the Downers Grove Grade School District 58 Board of Education. Each will serve a four-year term. They are, alphabetically by last name:

• Melissa Bocker Ellis
• Gregory Harris
• Darren Hughes
• Tracy Weiner

Community High School District 99

Four candidates are in the running for four seats on the board of education for Community High School District 99. They are, alphabetically by last name:

• Christopher Espinoza
• Sherell Fuller
• Jennifer Hagstrom
• Teresa K. Pavesich

Voting In DuPage County

Downers Grove residents can still vote early at several locations throughout DuPage County through Monday.

Voters can click the link to check their voter registration status in DuPage County.