The Lake Forest Caucus Committee is endorsing incumbent Mayor Stanford “Randy” Tack for another term as questions remain about whether the city will go through another contested election.
On Oct. 3, the Caucus Committee – a group composed of 43 Caucus officials – announced it would back Tack for a second consecutive two-year term as mayor in next spring’s municipal election. The Caucus general membership is now set to vote on the endorsement at the Oct. 30 annual meeting.
“He has served the residents of Lake Forest with distinction since being elected as our mayor in 2023,” the Caucus wrote in a statement.
Upon reflecting on his first term, Tack cites the City’s $3.5 million purchase earlier this year of a vacant building in the Conway Park office complex intended to be the new police headquarters as his biggest accomplishment. The City plans to retrofit the building and make it the new police headquarters.
The process has recently moved into a design phase as city officials await the costs to renovate the building at 1925 Field Court with initial estimates between $24.5 million and $28.8 million, depending on the size and scope of the project.
Tack states the potential adaptive reuse is less expensive than constructing a new facility.
“This will position the city well for the future by providing state-of-the-art facilities while saving the city up to $20 million in total cost versus alternative options,” Tack wrote in an e-mail.
Currently, the city’s police and fire department share the same building on the 200 block of Deerpath Road.
Looking ahead to a potential new term, Tack listed his goals as continuing responsible management of the taxpayer funds. He also wants to see the promotion and maintaining “productive, collegial, and efficient operation” of City Council meetings and workshops and delivering the scheduled capital projects including the scheduled Deerpath Road renovation (in early 2025) and the new police building on time and within the budget.
With Lake Forest mayors traditionally serving two consecutive two-year terms, Tack would step down in 2027. That being the case, he said a fourth aspiration would be to turn over the mayor’s office to his successor with the city in the strongest financial shape.
Yet while he has the Caucus Committee backing, Tack still faces some critical moments ahead of the April 1 general election.
Initially, the Caucus Committee endorsement will go before the Caucus general membership at the Oct. 30 general meeting. In 2022, in a highly unusual occurrence, the general membership did not support Tack’s endorsement from the Caucus Committee. With the bylaws unclear on how to move forward, the Caucus hierarchy moved ahead with its backing of Tack, sparking a controversy.
Tack, who served as third ward alderman from 2012-18, then headed off an independent challenge in the 2023 municipal election from another City Council member Prue Beidler and a third candidate.
Whether a similar chain of events will occur this year remains to be seen.
At the October 30 meeting, Tack — as well as the rest of the proposed slate — will have to receive a simple majority from the general membership.
If he does receive the Caucus endorsement, Tack potentially could face another independent challenge in the April 2025 election. However, Beidler said over the weekend she would not be a candidate.
Candidates may file nominating petitions between November 12–18, according to the Lake County Clerk’s website.
In addition to Tack, the Caucus Committee has endorsed incumbent Aldermen Peter Clemens, 1st, John Powers, 2nd, and Richard Walther, 4th.
The Caucus Committee has yet to name its supported candidate for the open third ward slot as Ara Goshgarian will be leaving the City Council after serving the customary three two-year terms.
In terms of the two local public school boards, the Caucus Committee is supporting incumbent Anne Geraghty Helms for the Lake Forest High School board.
Caucus President Joe Oriti said endorsements for Goshgarian’s replacement and the school board seats would be revealed later this month.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
