Local Candidates Kick Off Campaigns In Lake Forest, Lake Bluff

LAKE FOREST-LAKE BLUFF, IL — Voters in Lake Forest, Lake Bluff and nearby unincorporated areas will pick the winners of at least a half-dozen contested elections for school and village boards this April.

This year, Lake Forest Caucus committee endorsed candidates at an annual meeting Nov. 10. But due to the coronavirus pandemic, Vote Lake Bluff, the village's nonpartisan caucus, did not hold its annual town hall meeting and did not vote on nominations.

In Lake Forest Community High School District 115, eight candidates are running for seven seats.

Two incumbents, sitting Board President David Lane and Dr. Tom Nemickas, decided not to run again, while two others, Vice President Sally Davis and Secretary Ted Moorman, are seeking third terms.

They are being challenged by David Burns, Amy Marsch, Jeff Gianell, Joanna Marshall, Marcus Schabacker and John Venson.

In Lake Forest Elementary School District 67, six candidates are competing for four open seats.

Incumbent Board Secretary Alice LeVert and board member Carl Kirar are seeking another term, while Vice President Robert Lemke and Jeff Folker are departing the board after two full terms. They are being challenged by Emily Bernahl, Taylor Cottam, Lori Fitzgerald and Anne Geraghty Helms.

In Lake Bluff Elementary School District 65, none of the four board members whose terms are set to expire next year are seeking to run again.

Only four candidates are on the ballot to replace them: Amy Donohue, Lauren Hirsh, Tim Penich and Carrie Steinbach.

In Lake Bluff, Village President Kathy O'Hara is not seeking another turn. She will be succeeded by either Regis Charlot or current village trustee Bill Meyer.

Six other candidates are competing for three open village board seats: Kate Briand, Charles Clarke, Mickey Collins, Taryn Fisher, Susan Rider and incumbent Aaron Towle.

Six candidates are seeking four seats on the Lake Bluff Park District board. Nicki Walsh, who was appointed last year to board vacancy, is the lone sitting commissioner on the ballot. The other candidates include Michele Mrachek, Gerard McDermott, Susan Raymoure, Ann Reider and Scott Weber.

And there is just one incumbent among the five candidates for four seats on the Lake Bluff Library Board. Bill Hayes is running again, while other the other candidates include Tricia Brockett, Jenny Graziano, Bonny Shaul and Matthew Zaute.

On the Lake Forest City Council, all the incumbents whose terms are expiring have declared their intention to seek another.

Mayor George Pandaleon is running for his second two-year term. Also up for re-election: 1st Ward Ald. Jed Morris, 2nd Ward Ald. Melanie Rummel, 3rd Ward Ald. Ara Goshgarian and 4th Ward Ald. Ray Buschmann. No challengers filed nominating petition.

More candidate and endorsement information is available from Vote Lake Bluff and Lake Forest Caucus, the towns' two local caucus committees.