Argoudelis Projected To Win Plainfield Mayoral Race

PLAINFIELD, IL — After a hotly contested race, the Village of Plainfield appears to have chosen its first new mayor since 2009. Former Will County Board member and township supervisor John Argoudelis appeared to have bested longtime village trustee Margie Bonuchi at the polls.

With all precincts reporting in Will and Kendall counties, Argoudelis held a 242-vote lead over Bonuchi, who has served on the village board since 2009.

"What I want say is something I’ve been thinking about for a long time," Argoudelis told Patch Tuesday night "This is not a victory for John Argoudelis, this is a victory for all of Plainfield. For the first time in a long time we can look forward to the future and to a fair and equitable government."

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Patch's attempt to reach Bonuchi Tuesday night was unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, in the village trustee race, five people battled for three open spots on the board, with two incumbents appearing to hang onto their seats.

Real estate agency owner Cally Larson and attorney Patty Kalkanis look to be joined on the board by Tom Ruane of Ruane Construction and a Plainfield planning commissioner since 2019. He also briefly served on the village board after being appointed to fill a vacancy in 2017.

Kalkanis was appointed to fill a vacancy on the board in 2019 and Larson was first elected in 2017.

With all precincts in, here are the vote totals Tuesday night:

Village president:

• John F. Argoudelis: 2,318
• Margie Bonuchi: 2,076

Trustee (3 elected):

• Nuhie Faheem: 1,229
• *Cally J. Larson: 2,279
• Eric J. Blatti: 1,992
• *Patty Kalkanis: 2,470
• Tom Ruane: 2,306

About the candidates

With current Village President Mike Collins not seeking re-election, longtime trustee Margie Bonuchi sought to replace him, and former Plainfield Township Supervisor John Argoudelis challenged her.

Bonuchi has been on the village board since 2009 and before that served on the village planning commission. A well-known community volunteer, she also works for Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 as the district's technology administrator.

She has a long history of volunteering in Plainfield and served on the C.W. Avery Family YMCA advisory board from 2009 to 2018.

On her website, Bonuchi touted these achievements, among others, during her tenure on the village board:

• Bringing the budget we inherited out of the red and into the black, ahead of schedule
• Maintaining (not raising) the same property tax rate since 2013
• Significant improvements to the Riverfront Park, including addition of path lighting, benches, entry points for tubing and other ways for families to enjoy the river, historic museum artifacts and signage outlining the history of Electric Park.
• Updated downtown streetscape, street improvements in older downtown neighborhoods, with the replacement of 100-year-old sewer system and replacement of lead piping to homes.

Argoudelis is a lifelong Plainfield resident who says he was "born and raised on the Argoudelis family farm in Plainfield." He started his own law firm in Plainfield in 2005 and served as Plainfield Township supervisor from 2002 to 2013 and as a Will County board member from 2010 to 2012.

Argoudelis also cited volunteer work such as serving as a pro bono attorney for Ready Set Ride in Plainfield and on the War Monument Relocation Committee.

On his website, he pledged this if elected: "Every resident, business owner and developer will be treated the same – there will only be one set of rules, with the Golden Rule being: Is it good for Plainfield?"

Related:

• Objection Against Argoudelis' Mayoral Petition Overruled
• Argoudelis Says He Wants To Be A Leader Who Gets 'Things Done'
• Collins Responds To Argoudelis: Letter

Trustee races

Kalkanis, a defense attorney, has been on the board since 2019, when she was appointed to fill a vacant seat. At the time, she told Patch she became interested in politics while working at Tomczak Law Group, saying, "Mr. Tomczak is a well known politician in the area and in many areas. Since working for him it's kind of opened my eyes into politics, but I can't say for sure... if it's a more rigorous direction of politics that I want to go in. I'd like to take it step-by-step and see where this [position] may take me."

Real estate agent Cally Larson was elected in 2017. On her "Plainfield First" website, Larson lists "development I support, projects I believe in," including the Pace Park & Ride development, affordable housing, 143rd Street westward expansion to Ridge Road, historic preservation and more.

Tom Ruane, who owns Ruane Construction, has been a Plainfield planning commissioner since 2019 and briefly served on the village board after being appointed to fill a vacancy in 2017.

On his campaign Facebook page, Ruane said he is a husband and father of three with a degree in architecture. He cites his involvement in the Plainfield Riverfront Organization, Lions Club, Village Preservation Association, Northern Illinois Food Bank, Plainfield Community Emergency Response Team and Plainfield YMCA, among other organizations.

"I do not see myself as a politician, but more as a steward of our community," he writes. "As an independent thinker, I can see both sides of an issue and am open to learning/hearing all points. I'm not afraid to change my mind or go against any status quo if it means the betterment of our community."

Attorney Eric J. Blatti also sought a spot on the board and called for "responsible residential and business development" in Plainfield. In a Patch candidate survey, he also called out what he said is "hypocrisy" on the board, writing: "I think there is a beacon of hypocrisy that shines on the current board member that voted for a semi-truck parking facility on a 2-lane portion of Rt. 30, yet cited traffic as the main reason to vote against the Muslim Center located on a 2-lane portion of Rt. 126. The default answer to inclusion should be yes, then work backwards from there to see if the project will work."

Political newcomer Nuhie Faheem is a Spanish teacher and says she would bring "accountability, inclusivity and sustainable growth to Plainfield."

According to her website, Faheem is an educator, coach, teacher trainer and a first-generation Indian-American.

"My parents immigrated to the United States in the 80s in search of a better life for their family," she wrote. "As a daughter of hardworking parents, the values of hard work, respect, and responsibility have always been important to me."

Eileen O'Gorman, Patch Staff, contributed to this article