As soon as the winning Democratic mayoral candidates in Waukegan and North Chicago emerge from their Feb. 25 primaries, they will begin a five-week general election campaign against a number of independent opponents.
A pair of independent candidates for mayor in Waukegan and North Chicago filed nominating petitions Monday in the offices of their respective city clerks, placing them on the ballot for the April 1 general election for municipal, school board and other local government positions.
Along with the mayoral races, voters will pick other city and school board members in both towns, as well as leaders in Waukegan Township which serves both cities.
Both Waukegan Mayor Ann Taylor and Ald. Keith Turner, 6th Ward, will be running as independents against the winner of the Democratic primary between former Mayor Sam Cunningham and Miguel A. Rivera Sr., as well as Republican Harold H. Beadling who is unopposed.
With no Republican primary in North Chicago, the winner of the Democratic contest between Mayor Leon Rockingham Jr. and Ald. Kenneth Smith, 5th Ward, will be running against both Ald. Anthony Coleman, 2nd Ward, and David Hood, a Waukegan High School security officer.
Waukegan City Clerk Janet Kilkelly now has an easy route to reelection. She has no opponent in the Democratic primary, there is no Republican contest and no one filed to run as an independent. She is unopposed in the April 1 election.
Since no independent filed to run for Waukegan treasurer and there is no GOP contest, the winner of the Democratic primary between incumbent John R. Schwab and Gene M. Decker will provide the winner.
North Chicago Ald. Kathy January, 7th Ward, filed her petitions as an independent. She will run against Democrat Dante Brooks. He is unopposed in the Democratic primary.
No independents filed to run for clerk or treasurer in North Chicago clearing the path for reelection for Treasurer Vance Wyatt and Clerk Lori Collins, both Democrats. They will be unopposed.
In Waukegan Township, which includes most of Waukegan, much of North Chicago and parts of both Beach Park and Park City, Assessor Mark Stricklin filed to run as an independent. He will face state Rep. Rita Mayfield, D-Waukegan, on April 1.
In North Chicago School District 187, there will be three elected board members for the first time in more than 14 years. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) took control of the district in 2010. It appointed a seven-member Independent Authority to oversee the schools.
ISBE is returning the district to oversight by an elected board, with three members to be chosen on April 1 joining four appointed members. A quartet will be chosen by voters in 2027, returning the district to complete public control. Petitions for the three positions were due Monday.
Competing for the three seats on the District 187 Board are Veronica Lynn Collins, Thomas Coleman, Gerald Coleman and Leonie Young. The Colemans are not related.
In Waukegan Community Unit School District 60, two incumbents and seven challengers are running for four positions. Both current board President Brandon Ewing and incumbent Adriana Gonzalez are not seeking reelection.
Incumbents Anita Hanna and Jeff McBride, along with challengers Tanyea Curry, Angela Ramirez, Nicholas Shepherd, Randy Sobecki, Khershuana Hanna (Anita Hanna’s daughter), Michael Rodriguez and Ashley Cullen-Williams are competing.
