Despite voters dumping a few high-profile suburban mayors, most incumbents claimed victory Tuesday in a flurry of races that were hotly contested but generally saw low voter turnout.
While mayors in Aurora, Orland Park and Waukegan lost in unofficial vote counts, incumbents in Evanston, Elmhurst, Oak Park, Park Ridge, North Chicago and Tinley Park appeared to have held onto their seats. Just 17% of registered voters went to the polls in Cook County, a slight uptick from local elections in recent years, but well below the participation rate for presidential and statewide elections.
In Arlington Heights, where Mayor Tom Hayes is stepping down, Trustee Jim Tinaglia won a three-way race with Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jon Ridler and Trustee Thomas Schwingbeck Jr. Hayes had endorsed Tinaglia, who vowed to keep up the momentum to persuade the Chicago Bears to build their stadium in Arlington Heights and has even floated the idea of getting the Chicago White Sox to relocate there as well.
There was also turnover in Dolton, where Mayor Tiffany Henyard was defeated in the Democratic primary in February by Trustee Jason House. House was on the way to a lopsided victory in Tuesday’s consolidated election over Casundra Hopson-Jordan.
For those mayors who were victorious, several plan to continue work on significant projects in their municipalities, from new police stations to village halls and a casino.
Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss thanked his opponent Jeff Boarini for raising issues in the campaign, but declared victory with 60% of the vote. Boarini had championed greater transparency and affordability.
Biss, a former state representative and senator, faced opposition over his support of a new football stadium for Northwestern University. His reelection means he will continue his work on providing reparations for Black residents and the Envision Evanston plan for long-term planning and rezoning of single-family homes, which has gotten pushback from some residents.
Biss promised change, saying, “The question before us should not be, ‘Is it OK to just stick with what we’ve always had and not move forward at all?’ The question before us needs to be, ‘How do we move forward?’”
In Elmhurst, Mayor Scott Levin won 71% of the vote in early returns, leading challenger Mark Mulliner, who was the city’s longest-serving alderman before leaving the City Council two years ago.
“I’ve proven through my track record that I’m the right person to be mayor,” Levin said. “I also think it was a bit disingenuous (for Mulliner) to campaign saying you’re going to lower the water rates and reduce taxes. We’ve been very good stewards of tax dollars and we’ve only raised taxes infrequently when necessary.”
Levin, who spent more than a decade as an alderman, said he will pursue building a new police station.
Following a contentious race in Oak Park, preliminary results showed Village President Vicki Scaman beating challenger Ravi Parakkat. Parakkat had opposed a proposal for a new village hall, a new leaf bagging ordinance and a pay raise for the village president.
Scaman, who was endorsed by state Senate President Don Harmon, of Oak Park, presented herself as a collaborator who would listen to all sides and unite residents on issues such as a new police station. “I am committed to listening to all and bringing our community together,” she said.
In Waukegan, former Mayor Sam Cunningham was ready to return to office after declaring victory over incumbent Mary Ann Taylor, who ousted Cunningham four years ago.
Taylor was the city’s first woman chief executive, while Cunningham was its first Black leader. A former resident of public housing, Cunningham pledged to build new housing downtown, to proceed with plans for a permanent casino, and to sell Lake Michigan water to other communities.
“I’m ready to work alongside the City Council and other local leaders, but more importantly Waukeganites, to rebuild a stronger, more united community,” he said.
Cunningham’s victory continues a streak of Waukegan voters choosing a new mayor every election for the past 28 years.
In neighboring North Chicago, Mayor Leon Rockingham Jr. claimed an unprecedented sixth term to add to his 20-year tenure and continue his agenda. Rockingham said he wants to make North Chicago safer, improve its infrastructure and increase economic development.
Park Ridge Mayor Martin “Marty” Maloney also claimed reelection over a challenge from city Clerk Sal Raspanti.
“I am so thrilled to continue as mayor of Park Ridge. I am excited that this opportunity has been afforded to me and the community has faith in my experience and vision of the future of the next four years,” Maloney told the Pioneer Press.
Maloney was on the City Council before being appointed mayor in 2015 following the sudden death of then-Mayor David Schmidt. He was then elected to the post in 2017 and reelected in 2021.
And in Tinley Park, voters rewarded Mayor Michael Glotz with a second term, with 60% of the vote over Michael Maloney, a former union executive. Glotz’s One Tinley Park slate also appeared victorious in races for village clerk and trustees.
Glotz, first elected in 2021, is a member of Operating Engineers Local 150. Unions contributed to both candidates, and state Sen. Michael Hastings and state Rep. Bob Rita supported Maloney.
When casting their vote for mayor, Tinley Park voters told the Daily Southtown that their most important issues were property taxes, a police contract and improving relations with the suburb’s park district.
The incumbent victories reversed trends in other suburbs such as Aurora, where incumbent Richard Irvin lost to Ald. John Laesch, and Orland Park, where former Trustee Jim Dodge declared victory over two-term Mayor Keith Pekau.
