The Chicago mayoral race may have been the highest profile contest in northern Illinois, but it wasn't the only game in town. Voters weighed in on referenda and chose local leaders in a number of contests.
In DeKalb’s 3rd ward city council race, former alderman Steve Kapitan, who resigned as city clerk in 2012, lost to political newcomer Michael Marquardt by just nine votes. In a three-way race in the 5th ward, Kate Noreiko won with 43% of the vote. And proving that “every vote counts,” incumbent Monica O’Leary beat Craig Roman by one vote to capture the 7th ward seat. That, however, could change once all absentee ballots are totaled.
Turnout was stunningly low in DeKalb County, with around 8% of registered voters showing up at the polls. That, however, didn’t dampen the enthusiasm for the non-binding referendum calling for an end to political corruption. 87% of DeKalb County voters voted in favor of the question. A similar percentage of Winnebago County voters also approved the referendum.
Malta Fire Protection District trustees can now move forward to staff their ambulance service – but they’re still seeking money. On Tuesday, voters approved hiking local property tax rates by 40 cents for every $100 of equalized assessed value.
In Winnebago County, voters in the Northwest Fire Protection District approved borrowing $750,000 to fix up its firehouses.
Liandro Arellano Jr. was elected as the mayor of Dixon yesterday. The new city council will start the task of hiring a city manager. That’s the final step in making the transition from the commission form of government to managerial. The hiring process for the city manager spot could take 3 to 6 months.
In Rochelle, Chet Olson won a fourth term in a row as the city’s mayor yesterday. He had three-quarters of the total votes in comparison to challenger Aaron Brooks.
Dave Krienke won a third term as village president of Roscoe yesterday. Voters also picked newcomer Lindsey Swanson and incumbent board members Rob Baxter and Carol Gustafson for the Village Board. Krienke says economic development will be a top priority in the coming years.
Conflicting Illinois statues could complicate the future of one of the newly-elected Dixon City Council members. Firefighter Jesse Arjes will be an office-holder and a city employee when he is sworn in. Some statues carry criminal penalties if Arjes votes on issues that might pose a conflict of interest.
Heads or tails? The answer could determine the next 2nd Ward alderman in the city of McHenry. The Northwest Herald reports Andy Glab and James Walsh remain deadlocked at 136 votes each after all four precincts were counted Tuesday.
In Wisconsin, Supreme Court Justice Ann Walsh Bradley easily beat Rock County Circuit Judge James Daley, earning another ten-year term on the state’s high court. Voters also decided to change the way the Supreme Court’s Chief Justice is appointed. For more than a century, the most senior member of the high court held the position: now, the justices will choose their leader. It’s seen as a victory for conservatives, who want to oust Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson, a liberal leading a majority conservative court.
- WNIJ's Susan Stephens and Katie Finlon contributed to this report.
