GOP offers full countywide officeholder slate

Incumbents rule first day of filing

The list of challengers was somewhat sparse on the first day of candidate filing for Lake County offices in the Feb. 2 primary election, with the race for sheriff initially shaping up to be the most crowded.

Sheriff Mark Curran filed for re-election on a Republican slate of incumbent countywide office holders that also included Clerk Willard Helander, Treasurer Robert Skidmore and Superintendent of Schools Roycealee Wood.

Two Democratic candidates for sheriff, former sheriff's deputy John Krempotic of North Chicago and Waukegan attorney Douglas Roberts, also filed for election Monday morning.

Eight incumbent County Board members filed for re-election. Nine seats on the board will be decided in next year's primary and general elections.

Democratic County Board member Collin Michael O'Rourke of Waukegan, who was appointed to the County Board seat vacated by Waukegan Mayor Robert Sabonjian, said he is not seeking election because he plans to return to school next fall. Waukegan resident Bill Durkin, a Democrat, filed for that seat on Monday.

County Board incumbents filing for re-election Monday included Republicans Brent Paxton of Zion, Steve Carlson of Grandwood Park, Susan Gravenhorst of Lake Bluff, Carol Calabresa of Libertyville, Aaron Lawlor of Vernon Hills, Craig Taylor of Lake Zurich, Ann Maine of Lincolnshire and Democrat Anne Bassi of Highland Park.

Democrat Delfino Parra of Libertyville filed petitions for the seat currently held by Calabresa.

Peter Couvall, a spokesman for the Lake County Democratic Party, said other Democratics will file this week for the offices of clerk, superintendent of schools and several County Board seats.

Two Beach Park Democrats, Sharon Carmody and Preston Carter, filed election petitions in North Shore Sanitary District Ward 1, and Republican Alan Santi of Lake Bluff filed in North Shore Sanitary District Ward 4.

Filing for the primary election runs through 5 p.m. Monday.