Frankfort Election: Mayor, Park District Referendum, School Board

FRANKFORT, IL — Election Day is almost here. There are several elections in Frankfort for village president, school districts, village trustee, township, park district, fire district, and library, although many candidates are running uncontested.

Voters will also answer a non-binding advisory question from the Frankfort Park District about acquiring the Borg Warner plant.

Frankfort Village President

One of the most talked-about races in Frankfort is the race for Village President. Last year, current mayor Jim Holland announced he would not seek re-election. Holland has served as mayor for 16 years.

This opened up the field to mayoral candidates John Clavio and Keith Ogle. Both Clavio and Ogle announced their intentions to run last fall, shortly after Holland's announcement. Both are also current Village Trustees.

Clavio is an attorney, and owns a practice in Frankfort. He has previously served as a Frankfort Library trustee, and has been on the Village Board since 2017.

In his Patch questionnaire, Clavio wrote his campaign priorities include: revitalizing the business community, increasing communication to residents, and maintaining a safe living environment for residents.

"Living in Frankfort for over 20 years and having my business in Frankfort for 20 years I am extremely vested in the Village of Frankfort. I will always have an open ear for the voters, residents, village board and village staff of Frankfort," Clavio wrote.

Ogle has also previously served as a Frankfort Library trustee, and as village clerk. He is the owner of a commercial audiovisual business in Frankfort. In his candidate questionnaire survey, Ogle wrote about his campaign priorities of public safety, infrastructure, and economic development which include: hiring an economic development director, expanding village programs and events, and completing the hiring of additional police officers.

"Frankfort is the kind of town we chose to live in and raise our family, and as Mayor I want it to be a welcoming place that others will choose as well," Ogle wrote.

Frankfort Village Trustee

The race for Frankfort Village Trustee is uncontested, despite objections filed which led one hopeful candidate to run as a write-in candidate.

There are three open positions for Village Trustee, and Daniel Rossi and Eugene Savaria will appear on the ballot. Tamara Schaeffer's name will also appear on the ballot, but she withdrew from the race in February, and votes for her will not count.

Schaeffer had filed objections to the nomination papers of two other hopeful candidates; Michael Leddin and Brian Feehery. Both withdrew their nominations after the objections, but Leddin is running as a write-in candidate.

Park District Referendum

The Frankfort Park District will also ask voters about acquiring the Borg Warner plant in a non-binding advisory question.

According to the park district, the space would allow for a multitude of programming opportunities including rental and meeting space, turf fields, gymnasiums, swimming facilities, senior and teen drop-in-centers, fitness space and more.

A non-binding referendum would not affect property taxes for residents, the park district has said. According to the park district, to impact property taxes, the district would need to have a binding referendum which, if successful, would provide funds to purchase and renovate the property.

The next opportunity that could be done would be in 2022, impacting the 2023 property taxes, the park district said.

The non-binding advisory question on the ballot will be:

"Should the Frankfort Park District acquire and improve the site of the Borg Warner Plant, located at 300 Maple Street in Frankfort and consisting of approximately 26 acres, for the purpose of developing, improving, and operating an indoor recreational space and outdoor athletic facilities and finance the purchase and renovation of the project by issuing bonds that will result in a property tax increase?"

Frankfort Park District Board of Commissioners

Voters will be able to vote for four out of five candidates:

• Thomas Ruvoli Jr.
• Mark Ponton
• Elmer Gentry
• Michael McCarey
• Barbara Dutton

Ruvoli and Ponton are current board members for the park district.

Ruvoli is a senior portfolio manager, and has served on the park district board since 2015. In his Patch questionnaire, he wrote that the most pressing issue facing the district is recovering from the recent pandemic.

"To accomplish this goal, I support and will continue to work as a member of the Frankfort Park District to become more innovative in offering programs and services that are unique," he wrote.

Ponton was appointed to the board in 2020, and he has worked in IT project management for financial and food service companies. He has also served on boards at St. Anthony Preschool, St. Mary Mokena school board and athletic board.

Dutton is also running for Frankfort Township Trustee, as well as park district commissioner. She is a retired attorney.

"It is my opinion that both boards are in serious need of fresh ideas and much oversight and change," Dutton previously told Patch.

Lincoln-Way D210 Board of Education

There are five candidates running for three open positions as board members for the Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Board of Education. The candidates are:

• Emily Biegel
• Aaron Janik
• Deadra Stokes
• Joseph Kosteck
• Tania Rempert

Janik, Stokes and Kosteck are all current board members, while Rempert and Biegel are newcomer candidates.

Biegel is a high school teacher, and has previously served as a precinct commiteeperson. In her Patch questionnaire, she wrote that the most pressing issue facing the board was that, "school board members foster positive relationships with teachers, students, administrators, and community members so that we can all work together to ensure that all students thrive while in our schools."

Janik is the current vice president of the school board, and works as an attorney. In his questionnaire, he wrote that the most pressing issue facing the board is long-term debt.

"I want to maintain the current reputation of the District, ensuring students receive a high quality education, while continuing to improve on the District's financial position," he wrote.

Stokes is also a current board member. She was appointed to the board in 2019, and she works as an attorney in Orland Park. She has previously served on the economic development committee for the Village of Frankfort.

Kosteck is the current board president, and also works as an attorney. In his questionnaire, he cited the most pressing issue for the board as "the need to restructure existing bond debt."

"I continue with the same promises and platform since first seeking and winning election to this board. I wish to do my part to maintain and improve our academic excellence, promote fiscal accountability, and preserve the district's excellent reputation," he wrote.

Rempert has a Ph.D. in educational psychology, as well as a degree in social work.

In her questionnaire, she wrote that the most pressing issue for the board is helping students after the COVID-19 shutdowns.

" I am running independently, as a volunteer mom who serves hot lunch and works the concession stand, to use my expertise to help the district rebound, rebuild, and assure resilience for our academic and extra-curricular programs to support the development of our students," she wrote.

Summit Hill District 161 Board of Education

There are eight candidates running for four open positions on the board of education:

• John Wade
• Katie Campbell
• James Martin
• Joy Murphy
• Stefanie McCleish
• Richard Ward
• Amy Berk
• John Lettiere

Murphy and Martin are current board members. Wade, Campbell, Martin and Murphy are running as Unified, Candidates for Summit Hill 161. On the group's Facebook page, they state, "If you're tired of the negative our district receives as a result of the behavior of a few, then we are your candidates."

McCleish is a teacher, and believes the pandemic remains the most pressing issue for the district, as well as the search for a new superintendent.

Ward is an engineer, and was a previous member of the board. He believes the most pressing issue facing the district is teaching the children.

Berk is a teacher, and believes the pandemic is also the most pressing issue facing the district, followed by student growth.

Lettiere is also a teacher, and believes the "downward trend in student achievement data," is the most pressing issue facing the board.

Frankfort Township

There are several races within Frankfort Township, including contested races for trustee, clerk and collector.

The elections for supervisor, assessor and highway commissioner are uncontested.

The clerk candidates are:

• Nella Piccolin
• Stephanie Drisko

The collector candidates are:

• Jessica Kot
• H. Ronald Hartman

The trustee candidates are:

• David Smith
• Nick George
• Laura Miroballi
• Gayla Smith
• Bruce Davis Jr.
• Michelle Domecki
• Barbara Dutton
• Mary Beth Windberg

David Smith, George, Miroballi, and Gayla Smith are all running on the Republican slate. All are current township trustees.

Davis Jr., Domecki, Dutton, and Windberg are all running as Democrats on the Fresh Slate for Frankfort Township. According to the slate's website, they are running to "bring transparency, accountability and community enrichment to Frankfort Township."

Polling places in Frankfort are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day on Tuesday. You can check to see if you are registered to vote by heading to the Illinois State Board of Elections website.

The law requires registered voters to keep their name and address current, and you will not be able to vote in the April consolidated election if you are not properly registered.

If you're a Will County voter, you can find lists of candidates on the Clerk's website.

Follow Along On Election Night

Frankfort Patch will be covering local contested elections on April 6.

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