Politics & Government

Oak Forest Consolidated Elections: See Who's Running This April

With many incumbents running uncontested, see who is challenging city board members and Aldermen this April.

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So who is running in the Consolidated Election this April.
So who is running in the Consolidated Election this April. (Yasmeen Sheikah/Patch)

OAK FOREST, IL — The April 2021 Consolidated Elections are just months away. Candidates for various positions around Oak Forest are officially in the running for mayor, alderman, library board and more.

Current City Treasurer JoAnn Kelly is not running for re-election this April. Kelly has served the city for the last 25 years as the City of Oak Forest's 6th Ward Ald., city treasurer and mayor. She was elected as treasurer in 2013.

This year in Oak Forest, even numbered aldermen are being challenged. Every two years, the election switches from odd and even numbered aldermen that must seek re-election, if they wish to stay in the position. Out of the seven wards, aldermen positions from wards two, four and six are up for grabs.

Find out what's happening in Oak Forestfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Filing for municipal elections ended in December, with many old and new faces entering the race. The following candidates are expected to appear on the ballot this April:

  • Henry L. Kuspa — Seeking re-election as mayor. He is running uncontested.
  • John F. Janozik — Seeking re-election as Clerk.
  • Robert Shaw — Running for Clerk against incumbent Janozik.
  • Erika Vetter — Kelly is not seeking re-election, and newcomer Vetter is running uncontested for the treasurer seat this April.
  • Richard Simon — The incumbent 2nd Ward Ald. is running for re-election unopposed.
  • Paul Selman — The 4th Ward Ald. is seeking re-election this April.
  • John Harris — Harris is running for the 4th Ward Ald. seat against incumbent Selman.
  • James Hortsman — The 6th Ward Ald. is running for re-election uncontested this April.

"It is very exciting to see so many people actively participating in the democratic process in their local communities," Cook County Clerk Karen A. Yarbrough said in a news release. "These elections are often overlooked although they have the most impact on our day-to-day lives."

Find out what's happening in Oak Forestfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The Consolidated Election will take place on April 6. Consolidated primaries are scheduled for Feb. 23. For more information regarding the upcoming election, click here.

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