Many hats tossed in ring for county offices
There's plenty of interest in the assortment of elected DuPage County positions slated for filling at the ballot box next year.
Several dozen candidates and supporters were lined up, petitions in hand, before the Election Commission doors opened at 8 a.m. Monday, the first day for turning in nomination documents.
Naperville's John Zediker was there to make official his interest in running for the job to which he was appointed last February, filling the vacancy left by state Rep. Mike Connelly.
"I just love the public service aspect of it," said Republican Zediker, 37, president of Moser Enterprises and a former Naperville city planner. "I've been walking and talking to voters the last two or three months, and they like what we're doing. We're getting a lot of support."
Challenging Zediker for the District 3 slot will be Joe Wozniak, who has sought the position before. Wozniak said he plans to run on a platform that includes environmentally friendly public transportation and fiscal prudence.
"In these hard economic times, we want to be sure we don't waste any of the county's money," the Naperville resident said.
Other incumbents hoping to stay on the board include District 2 representative Jeff Redick, R-Elmhurst, who will seek a second term in the upcoming election.
"When I ran four years ago I ran on some forward-thinking (initiatives), some budget planning and transparency," said Redick, 40, a law partner of state senator and County Board chairman candidate Dan Cronin, R-Elmhurst.
Glen Ellyn Republican J.R. McBride is also looking to remain on the board and continue some of the changes he has helped see through during his first term.
"We've added some good new members in the last couple of years, and I think we're hopefully headed in the right direction," the District 4 representative said.
Don Puchalski, a Republican who won his first term representing District 1 in 2006 after being appointed the year before to fill William J. Maio's seat, also is in the race.
Those not expected to seek retention on the board include Tom Bennington of Downers Grove, who was appointed earlier this month to the District 3 seat formerly held by the recently resigned Kyle Gilgis, and Linda Kurzawa of Winfield, who has represented District 6 since 1992.
"It's just time," said Kurzawa, who is looking forward to spending more time with her grandkids.
In addition to the incumbents, two District 3 Republicans plan to run for the open County Board seat. Brian Krajewski of Downers Grove and Dennis Brennan, who lives in Hinsdale, both filed petitions Monday.
First in line Monday morning was Sheriff John Zaruba, having arrived with a couple of helpers before 5 a.m.
After a dozen years in his current position, the 35-year lawman said he wants to stick with it for a fourth term. Zaruba estimated he and his supporters had collected upward of 6,500 signatures on his bundle of nominating petitions.
"We're working on getting as many (signers) as we can," said Zaruba, 58. "Obviously the more the better."
The sheriff will face at least one other contender for his job. West Chicago resident Mike Quiroz also filed for the position Monday.
Also among those in the line that stretched behind Zaruba through the lobby outside the commission's Wheaton office were most of those who hope to be the next chairman of the DuPage County Board, including current board member Debra Olson, R-Wheaton, Cronin, state Rep. Carole Pankau, R-Itasca, and a representative for Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso.
It's not likely that all of those on the ballot will be Republicans. Although they don't plan to turn in their paperwork until later this week, numerous Democrats reportedly are planning to slate themselves for the seven County Board positions and four seats on the Forest Preserve District board that also will be available next year.
According to Bob Peickert, chairman of the Democratic Party of DuPage County, the expected County Board candidates include Kathryn Tracy Salzano, District 1; Catherine D. Sewell, District 2; Karol Sole, District 3; Tom Wendorf, District 4; Brian Duewel, District 5; and Dave Barry, District 6.
Those planning to toss their hats in the ring for the Forest Preserve District are Dennis Clark, president; Hilary Denk, District 2; Eric Bergman, District 4; and Shannon Burns, District 6.
Democrats now occupy three of the 18 seats on the County Board, including Tony Michelassi of Aurora, District 5; Rita Gonzalez of Addison, District 1; and Dirk Enger of Winfield, District 6. All three were elected last November, placing more than one Democrat on the board for the first time since the 1970s.
The filing period will continue through Nov. 2.
In races that will require primaries, voting day will be Feb. 2. The general election of federal, state and county officials will take place Nov. 2. For the most current listing of DuPage County candidates available, go to cms.dupageelections.com.
