Of the 333 elections across Lake County Tuesday, only 91 were contested and in 12 of those for mayors or village presidents, voters kept six, ousted three and chose two new ones in open-seat races.
North Chicago Mayor Leon Rockingham Jr. cruised to his sixth term and Gurnee Mayor Thomas Hood was handily elected to a second term, while former Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham defeated incumbent Mayor Ann Taylor, who defeated him four years ago.
“I’m honored and certainly grateful to the voters to allow me another opportunity to serve as their mayor,” Cunningham said. “This election was more about the future of the city, and I believe the voters have made it very clear they trust me to lead Waukegan forward.”
Voters representing 14.3% of those registered to cast ballots in Lake County chose mayors, village presidents, legislators, township officials, school board members, library trustees and park commissioners Tuesday, from Highland Park to Antioch and Winthrop Harbor to Barrington.
In a surprise, with a very low turnout in North Chicago, Dante Brooks received 61.90% of the 42 votes cast compared to 38.10% for three-term Ald. Kathy A. January, 7th Ward, according to unofficial results.
For the first time in 13 years, North Chicago voters had the opportunity to choose three members of the school board. The Illinois State Board of Education took control of the district in 2012, inserting an independent authority to oversee North Chicago School District 187.
Though the election was uncontested, Veronica Lynn Collins, Thomas Coleman and Gerald Coleman — the Colemans are not related to each other, or Anthony Coleman — were chosen to sit on the board. In 2027, it will become a fully elected body.
In the Round Lake area, voters gave a strong “no” to a mayor and village president, according to the unofficial results. Round Lake Trustee Brian Brubaker received 80.27% of 1,039 votes cast to compared to Village President Russell S. Kraly, who garnered 19.73%.
Round Lake Park business owner Robert H. Seminary got 73.18% of 1,253 votes cast in the race against incumbent Round Lake Park Mayor Linda M. Lucassen, who garnered 26.82%.
With Grayslake Mayor Rhett Taylor and Mundelein Mayor Steve Lentz not seeking reelection, those villages were asked to choose new leaders. In Grayslake, Trustee Elizabeth Davies captured 90.65% of 2,631 votes cast, while Jeffrey Loffredo got 9.35%. Mundelein Trustee Robin D. Meier took 60.61% of the 3,4891 total votes, while Trustee Tim Wilson had 39.39%.
Fox Lake Village President Donald Schmit, Island Lake Mayor Richard McLaughlin, Libertyville Village President Donna Johnson, Wadsworth Village President Fred Witte and Winthrop Harbor Mayor Michael Bruno were all ahead, according to the unofficial results.
Waukegan Community Unit School District 60’s Board of Education will have a new president — current President Brandon Ewing did not seek reelection — and two new members.
With seven candidates running for four seats, the top vote-getters were incumbent Anita Hanna with 18.34% of 14,549 aggregate votes cast, incumbent Jeff McBride got 18.00%, newcomer Angela Ramirez received 17.71% and former board member and President Michael Rodriguez tallied 14.50%, according to the unofficial results.
