Local election filing roundup: Mayor races will be contested in Utica, Spring Valley and Earlville

Utica and Spring Valley voters will have a contested mayoral race.

In Utica, incumbent David Stewart filed a petition for reelection Monday while challenger Tracy Mix, a Utica business owner, also filed a petition.

Stewart is seeking his second term of office and is the first village president to serve a full term of office since Fred Esmond, who died in 2013. Predecessors Gloria Alvarado and Matt Jereb served partial terms of office after Esmond died in office.

“I feel the village as a whole has accomplished a lot of goals and items over the last four years,” said Stewart, an account manager for Coca-Cola who also served two years on the Village Board. “I want to continue accomplishing our long-term goals and making the village a great place to live for our residents.”

Mix is owner of Mix’s Trading Post and said he’s running primarily to help the village capitalize more on tourism.

“I think we have so much potential for the village with regards to tourism,” Mix said, “and there’s so much that could be done that hasn’t been done.”

Voters also will head to the polls April 6 to fill three seats on the Village Board. Incumbent trustees Mary Pawlak and Debra Krizel have filed for reelection. Trustee Jim Schrader had not, as of 1 p.m. Monday, filed a petition for reelection.

Newcomers have thrown their hats in the ring for Village Board – Chad McConville and Karen Lorenz.

McConville, who moved to Utica in 2017, said he talked politics with Mix and found enough common ground to seek his first political post.

Lorenz said she was not yet prepared to issue a statement of objectives.

Candidates may file petitions for office until Dec. 21.

Five vie for Spring Valley mayor seat

With Mayor Walt Marini planning to retire, Spring Valley City Clerk Becky Hansen reported brisk traffic at her office for first filings.

Edward Jauch, Melanie Malooley Thompson, Mark Venegas and Frederick Frank West filed at 9 a.m. for the mayor's position, so a lottery drawing will be conducted 9 a.m. Dec. 28, to determine ballot position. John French also filed a petition for mayor Monday and will be the fifth ballot position.

Also filing: city clerk, Rebecca Hansen; city treasurer, John "Jack" Boroski; Second Ward Alderman, Jeff Chiaventone; Third Ward Alderman, Jeff Janusick (first on ballot) and Gregory D. Campbell (second on ballot).

Four enter La Salle city races

Mayor Jeff Grove is seeking a fourth term in office. He is joined by incumbent aldermen Jim Bacidore in the First Ward and John "Doc" Lavieri in the Second Ward, as well as incumbent treasurer Virginia Kochanowski, in filing on Day 1.

Alderman will contest incumbent mayor in Earlville

Third Ward Alderman Mark Actis turned in petitions to challenge Michael Hall for mayor in Earlville. Hall also filed his petitions Monday.

Also filing petition Monday were incumbent Robin Austin for Second Ward alderman, newcomer Bryan Nelson for Third Ward alderman, incumbent Charles Jenkins for First Ward alderman, incumbent Jane Bauer for city clerk and incumbent Bruce Bauer for treasurer.

Incumbents highlight Mendota race

Incumbent aldermen Kyle Kim in the Third Ward, Leo Hochstetter in the Second Ward and Jim Fitzpatrick in the First Ward filed their petitions for reelection Monday in Mendota. Additionally, Mayor David Boelk and City Clerk Emily McConville filed for reelection.

No one has filed Fourth Ward alderperson or treasurer as of yet.

Scarbeary views for reelection on Streator council

Retired firefighter Joe Scarbeary will be seeking his second term in office, as he was the lone person to file petitions for office Monday at Streator City Hall. Council member Ed Brozak, who also has a seat up for reelection, said he is collecting signatures and plans to file soon for reelection. The mayor and two other council seats are not up for election in Streator this spring.

One person files in Princeton races

Newcomer Jennifer Schnaiter filed her petition for Princeton City Council for one of two upcoming expiring terms. City Clerk Pete Nelson reported Schnaiter was the only petition turned in Monday morning.

Commissioners seek remainder of term in Seneca

Appointed commissioners Mark Victor and Kent Weber turned in petitions Monday to serve the remainder of their terms. They were appointed to succeed commissioners Randy Timmons and John Lamb, who were elected in 2019, but didn't serve their full terms.

No city elections in Ottawa, Marseilles and Oglesby

There are no open posts in Ottawa, Marseilles and Oglesby this spring, because each community is a commission form of government, in which all elected positions are selected by voters every four years.