Two file to run for mayor in Plainfield

Two candidates filed last week to run for mayor of Plainfield in April’s municipal election.

Margie Bonuchi, a village trustee, and John Argoudelis, a local attorney, are running for the position. Michael Collins, the sitting mayor, is not running for a fourth term.

Collins first was elected mayor of Plainfield in 2009 and before that was a village trustee.

“I thought it was time for other voices,” he said.

Bonuchi was first elected to the village board in 2009 and said she has had extensive community service experience during her 25 years living in the village. She is the director of technology at Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202.

She said if elected, she wants to “continue a lot of the good works that we have in place” in village government.

Bonuchi said she has also prepared herself to lead the village. This year, she said, she finished a master’s degree in public administration from DePaul University.

Argoudelis said he’s practiced law in Plainfield since the early 2000′s. He’s previously held elected office as a Will County Board member, Plainfield Township supervisor, and Plainfield Library Board trustee.

He said he has been dissatisfied with village leadership not making progress on a number of issues from improving the downtown area to helping small businesses.

“There are a lot of things that haven’t been done,” he said.

Both candidates said if elected, they will be most concerned with big projects. such as the eastward expansion of 143rd Street to alleviate traffic on Route 126. Bonuchi said this project has been in the works for several years.

“It’s definitely needed,” she said.

Argoudelis pointed to the possible expansion project as an example of village leadership not executing on an obvious need.

“Let’s get it done,” he said.

Three village trustee positions are also on the ballot in April.

Incumbents Patricia Kalkanis and Cally Larson filed to run for reelection. Eric Blatti, Nuhie Faheem, Tom Ruane, and Alfred Tinsley also filed as village trustee candidates.