HoMe Stretch

[ DOWNERS GROVE ]

It’s down to the wire for candidates running in the April 2 election.

After a lengthy campaign that included candidates forums, numerous mailers, knocking on doors and, in some cases, an aggressive presence on social media, Downers Grove voters head to the polls next week to choose a new mayor, Village Council members, and school board representatives.

Early voting has been going on for several days, and polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.

The race for Downers Grove mayor has been a high-profile one with three candidates vying to replace Mayor Martin Tully, who leaves the office because of term limitations.

The race features incumbent commissioners Bob Barnett and Marge Earl, and David Olsen, who joined the race after an unexpected defeat in his bid for re-election to the Illinois House of Representatives.

Olsen, 30, was formerly a member of the Downers Grove Village Council and the College of DuPage of Trustees before being named a state representative in 2016 – a seat he was elected to later that year.

Olsen said he’ll bring a millennial’s viewpoint to the mayor’s office, as well as experience garnered in previous elected positions. Critics claim, however, that Olsen is too young, while others believe that if elected, he would only serve until launching a campaign for higher office.

Earl, 54, was named to the Village Council in 2016.

Before her appointment, Earl was a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals from 2007 to 2016. She also was a member of both the 2010 and 2016 Comprehensive Planning Ad Hoc Committees and the 2007 Ad Hoc Housing Committee.

Earl also has been the target of some criticism on social platforms as some residents question her experience and political leanings.

Barnett, 50, has been a member of the Village Council since 2009. He’s had significant social media during the campaign built on the theme “Service Above Self.”

Barnett touts a significant résumé of community service. He was a member of the Stormwater and Flood Plain Oversight Committee and the village’s liquor commission. He’s also served on the Downers Grove Park District Outdoor Pool Advisory Committee and the Grove Foundation. He’s active in his church, as well as with Downers Grove Youth Baseball.

A new mayor will not be the only change to the Village Council after the election. Voters will choose at least two new commissioners as Commissioners Bill White and William Waldack are not seeking re-election.

Commissioner Nicole Walus is joined on the ballot by challengers Rich Kulovany, Jeff Jacobson, Leslie Sadowski-Fugitt and Jacob Kist.

If Barnett or Earl are victorious in the mayoral race, their replacement would be appointed, meaning there would be at least three new commissioners on the council.

Kulovany, 66, is a longtime Downers Grove resident and has served as a member of the plan commission. He’s also been active as a member of the Downers Grove Historical Society and the Pierce Downer’s Heritage Alliance.

Sadowski-Fugitt, 34, has been a Downers Grove resident since 2012. An Ohio native, she worked for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and brings a knowledge of stormwater issues and flooding to the campaign.

Jacobson, 59, is an attorney and a member of the Downers Grove Liquor Commission. A longtime resident, he’s been active in the community, including youth sports.

While Kist’s name is on the ballot, he did not run an active campaign or appear at candidates forums.

Voters also will select school board members in Downers Grove Grade School District 58 and Community High School District 99.

In District 58, three challengers and two incumbents are running for three four-year terms.

Challengers Steve Olczyk, Emily Hanus and Kylie Spahn look to unseat incumbents Kirat Doshi and Elizabeth Sigale. A race for a two-year term pits incumbent Doug Purcell, the board president, against Tracy Weiner.

All of the challengers have been active in the district, regularly attending school board meetings and serving on councils and committees and PTAs. While they are not running as a slate, they have voiced similar concerns, including the district’s need to improve communications.

The new board will face several challenges, including working with a new superintendent, who is expected to be named April 1, advancing the strategic plan and making decisions about facilities, to name a few.

In District 99, three incumbents and two challengers are in the race for the four-year terms. The incumbents are Nancy Kupka and Mike Davenport, who are seeking their third terms, and Don Renner, who was first elected in 2015.

The challengers are Joanna Vazquez Drexler and Don Erickson. While both are political newcomers, they bring education experience to the campaign.

The next board will be responsible for guiding the progress of the renovations at both high schools and improving student safety.

Finally, voters will make selections in the race for College of DuPage Board of Trustees, where four newcomers are running for two seats, which are six-year terms.

The candidates include 54-year-old Annette Corrigan, an attorney from Wheaton; 40-year-old Marc Incrocci, a Lombard native who works in logistics; 66-year-old Dan Bailey, a retired locomotive engineer who later returned to school and studied at College of DuPage to become a registered nurse; and 43-year-old Maureen Dunne, a Downers Grove native who graduated high school at 16 and received the first of her many diplomas from the College of DuPage.