Skokie Election: Contested Races For Village Board, Park District

SKOKIE, IL — One of Skokie's most contentious village board elections in years comes to a close Tuesday, as voters choose at least four new trustees.

Seven candidates, including two incumbents, are seeking six available seats on the Skokie Village Board.

Mayor George Van Dusen is unopposed in his bid for a fifth term in office, as is two-term Village Clerk Pramod Shah.

The Skokie Caucus Party, undefeated in local elections for the past six decades, initially endorsed a slate of six candidates for village board.

One candidate did not seek the party's endorsement and has campaigned as an independent.

But last month, after calls from local women elected officials, the Caucus Party repudiated one of its nominees, Billy Haido. In a statement, party officials condemned "sexist, misogynist" social media posts by Haido and withdrew the endorsement.

Haido has apologized for the posts, which he described as "sophomoric attempts at humor."

The five remaining Caucus-backed candidates include two incumbents — Ralph Klein is seeking a third term and Edie Sue Sutker is seeking a fifth term — and three newcomers — Skokie Park Board Commissioner Khem Khoeun, Alison Pure-Slovin and Keith Robinson.

Two of four outgoing village trustees have subsequently publicly endorsed the independent candidate, James Johnson, and more than a dozen other local elected officials signed on to the anti-Haido effort.

The campaign committee Vote No Billy Haido was registered March 29. It is chaired by Ashley Moy-Wooten and Jennifer Ruffner is its treasurer. Both are Skokie residents.

Johnson has faced criticism for teaching at a Catholic high school and submitting a public comment in November calling on village trustees to reject a police department request to spend about $55,000 on 18 bulletproof vests.

Related:
Two Outgoing Skokie Trustees Endorse Independent Candidate
'Sexist, Misogynistic' Posts Cause Caucus Party To Drop Candidate

Following the Skokie Caucus Party's withdrawal of its endorsement of Haido, advertisements listed as having been paid for by the political committee Billy for Trustee aimed to contrast Haido and Johnson.

State campaign finance records filed Monday show and Ramcin Sheeno, of Morton Grove, serves as the chair and treasurer of Billy for Trustee.

According to the mailer, Haido is "on the ballot with the Skokie Caucus Party candidates," despite the fact the party has withdrawn its endorsement. According to the Cook County Clerk's Office, Haido will appear on the ballot as a listed member of the Skokie Caucus Party.

The ad warns Johnson will be "outvoted 5-1 on every issue" and has "world peace," "environmental 'justice'" and "lowering property values" among his priorities.

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Johnson provided a response to a Patch candidate questionnaire. Representatives of the Skokie Caucus Party and Haido's campaign did not. Party officials have emphasized Johnson did not seek and has not received the endorsement of the Caucus Party.

Skokie Park District

There is one contested seat on the Skokie Park District Board of Commissioners. Incumbent Michael Alter is seeking a third term on the board, and he faces challenges from Julianna Oh, Mary Oshana and Regina Yonan.

Skokie Library Board

There are two open seats on the Skokie library board, with only one candidate for trustee — Shabnam Mahmood — on the ballot. As the only write-in candidate registered in the race, Noreen Winningham is poised to win the other seat.