O’Connor keeps seat in high-stakes race

Bob O’Connor will get his eighth term.

Seven-term incumbent O’Connor keeps his seat in the at-large race against well-known and outspoken challenger Rick Lawrence, current 4th Ward alderman.

O’Connor, a real estate attorney, held 68 percent of the vote over Lawrence’s 32 percent. With all …

Longtime public servants clash in Sandwich mayor’s race

SANDWICH – Driving through town, one might see the signs. In big red letters on a white canvass, they say, “Sandwich needs a new mayor in town.” There also is a graphic on the signs that looks somewhat like an Old West sheriff, which is …

New faces in 3rd, 4th, 9th Ward races in Aurora

AURORA — It’s the battle to see who will take over Rick Lawrence’s 4th Ward seat Tuesday. One of the city’s most competitive races come Election Day will be between Mavis Bates, Aurora Township Democrats’ chairman, and Bill Donnell, chairman of the Aurora Planning Commission. …

Plenty of candidates in Wheatland Township races

The upcoming Wheatland Township general election on April 9 is packed with a full slate of candidates from both Republicans and Democrats along with an assortment of independent candidates. A whopping 12 candidates are running for the four trustee positions including a former supervisor. Former …

Incumbent challenged in Aurora 2nd Ward race

AURORA — Two-term alderman Juany Garza will seek to keep her 2nd Ward seat in Tuesday’s election against challenger Irlanda Gardiakos. Both women would be set to represent the only immigrant, or Latina, voice on the city’s Council: 60-year-old Gardiakos emigrated from Ecuador in 1975; …

Races shape up in three of four Yorkville wards

YORKVILLE — Voters here will get a chance to change the face of the City Council, or keep it exactly the same. There are races in three of the four wards on the council, with incumbents running for re-election in each ward. Alderman Larry Kot, …

Yorkville voters to decide on treasurer, clerk issue Tuesday

YORKVILLE — As it stands, Yorkville residents elect the city clerk and city treasurer. But that could change Tuesday when voters decide in a referendum if the two positions should continue to be elected, or instead appointed. While city officials have taken no sides on …

Newcomers square off to represent 10th Ward

AURORA — No matter who is elected next Tuesday, one of the 10th Ward contenders will lead a crop of fresh faces when they are seated as Aurora’s next generation of aldermen. Plainfield teacher Lynne Johnson and Judd Lofchie, a real estate broker developer and …

East Aurora board members split views on election endorsements

AURORA — The two East Aurora School Board members who aren’t up for re-election disagree on some of the East candidates they’d most like to see elected Tuesday. Board member Ray Hull said he is endorsing mostly newcomer candidates: Zach Montroy, Kirsten Strand and Mary …

Catching, Heriaud face off to be Aurora Township supervisor

Following an upset in the Democratic primary that unseated embattled Aurora Township Supervisor Christina Campos, Democrat Bill Catching and Republican Al Heriaud are now facing off in the April 9 election for the supervisor’s seat. Al Heriaud Heriaud said that his top priority as township …

Superintendent selection top priority for new East board

AURORA — At the second forum for East Aurora School Board candidates Tuesday night, there was one question on everyone’s minds: How will the new board go about replacing Superintendent Jerome Roberts, whose contract is set to expire in the summer of 2014?

The forum, …

Weisner won’t endorse in school board elections

AURORA — Mayor Tom Weisner wants to make it clear: he is not endorsing school board candidates in any of the four core districts that serve Aurora. Weisner said he has fielded questions from a number of Aurora residents wondering if he was endorsing specific …

Chambers to host forum for candidates

Aurora business groups will host a candidate forum Tuesday morning at Waubonsee’s downtown campus. All Aurora aldermanic candidates were invited to attend the forum that will kickoff at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday at Waubonsee Community College, 18 S. River St. Most candidates have confirmed they will …

Two longtime foes running to be Plano’s mayor

PLANO — It’s no secret that there’s no love lost between Mayor Bob Hausler and Alderman Katherine “Dee” LeCuyer here. The two often clashed as aldermen, ran against each other for mayor four years ago and clashed again during the past four years in Hausler’s …

Leonardi won’t file for recount in 4th Ward race

AURORA — Aldermanic hopeful Jay Leonardi confirmed late Tuesday that he won’t petition the Aurora Election Commission for a recount of 4th Ward ballots. Now that a potential political wrench has been taken out of the mix, the two top vote-getters in the primary, Bill …