Illinois Valley Voter Guide for April 2025 local election – Shaw Local
FILE – “I Voted” stickers rest on a ballot machine at a voting site in Ottawa. (Scott Anderson)
This spring, La Salle and Bureau county voters get to decide who will make the important decisions regarding their communities, schools, townships, fire departments, parks and libraries.
Early voting has started with voting to conclude on Election Day, April 1.
To vote in La Salle County
To vote by mail, go to lasallecountyil.gov/288/Vote-by-Mail where applications for vote-by-mail ballots can be found. The last day for the county clerk’s office to accept applications is Thursday, March 27.
Early voting has started at the La Salle County Clerk’s Office, 707 E. Etna Road in Ottawa.
Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday through Monday, March 31, and 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays, March 22 and 29.
To vote in Bureau County
To vote by mail, go to il-bureau.ballotrequest.net where applications for vote-by-mail ballots can be found. The last day for the county clerk’s office to accept applications is Thursday, March 27.
Early voting has started at the Bureau County Clerk and Recorder’s Office, 700 S. Main St. in Princeton.
Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday through Monday, March 31, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays, March 22 and 29.
Early voting is also available 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, through Friday, March 28, at the Princeton Moose Lodge, 1339 N. Euclid Ave., and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, through Friday, March 28, at Spring Valley City Hall, 215 N. Greenwood St.
Below are all competitive races in La Salle and Bureau counties with candidate questionnaires and coverage as available. This voter guide will be updated if additional candidates submit their questionnaires and more coverage completed.
Townships
Library Districts
School Districts
College Districts
Fire Protection Districts
Referendums
Townships
Library Districts
School Districts
College Districts
Fire Protection Districts
Referendums
Library Districts
School Districts
College Districts
Fire Protection Districts
Referendums
School Districts
College Districts
Fire Protection Districts
Referendums
College Districts
Fire Protection Districts
Referendums
Fire Protection Districts
Referendums
Referendums
Mayor
Mark S. Actis Jr. (incumbent)
Kathleen H. Wolfe
Mayor
Jeff Grove (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire
Gary C. Hammers: Candidate questionnaire
Jamie Hicks: Candidate questionnaire
Tyler Thompson: Candidate questionnaire
Our coverage: “4 candidates share their views in La Salle mayoral forum”
Photos: Mayoral candidates speak at La Salle-Peru Township High School community forum
Alderperson, Ward 1
William T. Sexton
James “Diz” Demes: Candidate questionnaire
Alderperson, Ward 2
Tom Ptak (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire
Dawn Hicks: Candidate questionnaire
Our coverage: “La Salle 2nd Ward Aldermanic candidates talk city’s biggest challenges ahead of April 1 election”
Alderperson, Ward 3
John “Doc” Lavieri (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire
Jessica Dergance
Nicole Girton: Candidate questionnaire
Danielle “Dani” Piland: Candidate questionnaire
Our coverage: “La Salle 3rd Ward aldermanic candidates talk city expansion, businesses plans ahead of April 1 election”
Alderperson, Ward 4
Brianne Hicks: Candidate questionnaire
T. Boo Herndon (incumbent)
Mayor
David W. Boelk (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire
Shallen Gross: Candidate questionnaire
Alderperson, Ward 1
James Fitzpatrick (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire
Joel Perez: Candidate questionnaire
Alderperson, Ward 4
Vicki Johnson (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire
Matt Ramer
Our coverage: “Mendota headed in the right direction, candidates say”
Photos: Mendota candidate participate in forum
Mayor
Ken Kolowski (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire
Douglas P. Bernabei: Candidate questionnaire
Our coverage: “Ken Kolowski’s record versus Doug Bernabei’s voice for change heard at Peru mayoral forum”
Photos: “Photos: Mayoral candidates speak at Peru library forum”
Listen to Bernabei on our podcast.
City Clerk
James “Jamey” Mertel
Sherry Mayszak
Alderperson, Ward 2
Jason Edgcomb (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire
Tom Riordan: Candidate questionnaire
City Council member, Vote for 2
Donald P. Saletzki: Candidate questionnaire
Michael McCall (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire
Martin T. Makransky (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire
Mayor
Melanie Malooley Thompson (incumbent)
Debra L. Perino
Alderperson Ward 3
Jake Kelley
J.C. Heerdt
Council member, Vote for 2
Scott Scheuer: Candidate questionnaire
Daniel Danko: Candidate questionnaire
Christopher Thomas
Tanya Zehr Pearce: Candidate questionnaire
Justin Skinner
Mayor
Mary Jane Bade (incumbent)
John Simmons
Alderperson, Vote for 3
Kym Healy (incumbent)
Randy Lohr
Brian Karczewski
Brock Flanigan
William Simmons (incumbent)
Matt Zulz (incumbent)
Mayor
Sarah Tenpenny
Tim Wise (incumbent)
Trustee, Vote for 3
Bogdan Taran
Kate Sturtewagen
Kimberly Goodley (incumbent)
Matthew Nordstrom
Commissioner, one unexpired two-year term
Kirsten Kasperski
Paul Williams
Village President
Daniel J. Hoffert
Richard Hernandez
Clerk
Brooke Smith
Tiffany Torri
Hillary Grilc
Trustee, Vote for 3
Tanya Miscevic
William Laicoff
Raymond Scott Werkau
Lawrence Lamkin
Trustee, Vote for 3
Anne M. Hinterlong (incumbent)
Steven M. Fulkerson
James D. Stricklin (incumbent)
Kimberly A. Olney (incumbent)
Commissioner, Vote for 2
Miguel Ocon (incumbent)
Brian Niles
Ryan Finley
Matthew Clifford
Jennifer M. Williams is running unopposed for a two-year term.
Trustee, Vote for 3
Lindsay Eden
Anthony Solomon
Steve R. Jacobs
Jason Ruff
Raymond Calsyn Jr.
Village President
Dale K. Johnson
Paige Talty
Randy Stillwell
Stillwell, who died in December 2024, will still appear on the ballot.
Village President
Dan Krischel
Samantha Montgomery (Write-in candidate)
Trustee, Vote for 3
Tanner Haller
Al Stunkel
Cody Montgomery
Christina Jenkins
Sydni Tooley
Wendy Petrimoulx
Village President
Sheila Yepsen
Karen Milby
Trustee, Vote for 3
Karen M. Taylor
Jonathan Gosch
Donald Jamison
Jamie Swearingen
John Patrick Barry
David L. DeVoss (incumbent)
Patricia Corwin (incumbent) is running unopposed for a two-year term.
Clerk
Linda L. Kling (incumbent)
Minerva Andriotis
Village President
Eric Skinner
Arthur Foltynewicz
John Coons
Trustee, Vote for 3
Mark Zimmer
Thomas Goskusky
Raymond Martinez
William Tregoning
Village President
James Blanford
Cordell Wedekind
Information regarding incumbents in some Bureau County township races was not immediately distinguishable. Updates will be made as information is gathered. Email newsroom@mywebtimes.com if you have information on any of these races.
Clerk
Tricia Burden
Rachael Biagioni
Trustee, Vote for 4
Raymond C. Hladovcak (incumbent)
Joseph M. Ugolini (incumbent)
David Gage (incumbent)
Vernon L. Klaw
Monica Lynn Barry
Clerk
Heather Patterson
Kathy J. Harris
Susan K. Yusko
Trustee, Vote for 4
Harold “Randy” Baumrucker (incumbent)
Joseph M. Harcharik
Sara McCurdy
Leah Washington
Steven Biroschik
Chad “Toad” Winterrowd (incumbent)
Anthony “AJ” Simmons
Eddy H. Hunter
Clerk
Janet Gould
Jackie Anderson
Highway Commissioner
Dawson Ploch
Mark D. Steele
John Goskusky
Trustee, Vote for 4
Richard Alleman (incumbent)
Shawn J. Micheli (incumbent)
Adam Anderson (incumbent)
Kurt Keutzer (incumbent)
Arthur Foltynewicz
Trustee, Vote for 4
Cindy Eutis (incumbent)
Randy Hooper (incumbent)
Denise Imig (incumbent)
Al Kocher (incumbent)
Linda Gebhardt
Highway Commissioner
James Stephen Glade
Travis M. O’Connell
Mike W. Woods (incumbent)
Highway Commissioner
Jay Blackert
Michael Fisher
Highway Commissioner
Peter Johnson
Jeff Cady
Highway Commissioner
Troy Petrimoulx
Michael Snyder (write-in)
Highway Commissioner
Dale Bernard
Monte Moreno
Highway Commissioner
Christopher Hicks
Cole Jilderda
Highway Commissioner
Richard Gross (incumbent)
Joseph Fahs
Highway Commissioner
Carlos S. Ambler (incumbent)
Marvin Fultz
Highway Commissioner
William Pfau
John L. Middleton (incumbent)
Highway Commissioner
Ethan S. Sack
Jackson Prather
Daniel McConville
Highway Commissioner
Adam White
James Feely
Supervisor
Lawrence Durdan
Raymond Boyles (incumbent)
Trustee, Vote for 4
Steven Weberski
Scott Wm. Miller
Robert P. Etzenbach
Thomas Stevenson
David P. Potthoff
Charles L. Trovero Sr.
Clerk
Karen Breckenridge (incumbent)
Kevin Gahan
Trustee, Vote for 4
Melvin R. Mertel
Karen S. Schmitt
Matt Vincent
Raymond J. Wolf (incumbent)
Kevin Knecht (incumbent)
Donald Miller (incumbent)
Dianne Cooper (incumbent)
Trustee, Vote for 4
Timothy Caputo (incumbent)
Laurena Miller (incumbent)
Glen Nelson (incumbent)
Paul Kelley
Mark Boe (incumbent)
Highway Commissioner
George Glover
Michael J. Bastion
Trustee, Vote for 4
Scott Munks (incumbent)
Matt Skelly (incumbent)
Nick Allegretti (incumbent)
Lori Bongartz
Jane Schomas
Highway Commissioner
Kevin Schiffbauer
Allen Leffleman (incumbent)
Highway Commissioner
Nick Skromme
Erik Wheeler
Kevin Callahan (incumbent)
Trustee, Vote for 4
Marty Brown (incumbent)
Steve Pillion (incumbent)
Jason Corcoran (incumbent)
Michael Lyons (incumbent)
Ed W. Kahon
Supervisor
Benjamin R. Hagenbuch
Johnathan Hagenbuch
Trustee, Vote for 4
Joshua Mammen
Benjamin Graham
Nicholas Barto
Katie Corcoran
Darrell Corcoran
Trustee, Vote for 3
Deborah Larson
Kathleen Eager (incumbent)
Mary Bender (incumbent)
Stephanie Eller
Trustee, Vote for 4
William Schwabenland (incumbent)
Sarah Stuepfert (incumbent)
Jennifer Williams
Nataleigh Wamhoff
Regina McCoy
Jacob Bonnell
Trustee, Vote for 3
Sarah Siebert (incumbent)
Margaret A. Jaskowiak (incumbent)
Cyndi Sondgeroth (incumbent)
Karen Podobinski (incumbent)
No one filed for an unexpired two-year term.
Trustee, Vote for 4
Christopher J. Gresk (incumbent)
Marilyn Abbott (incumbent)
Thomas J. Harmon (incumbent)
James Beal
Kathleen Rhoden
Gina Skofich (incumbent)
Kinsay Smith
Board member, Vote for 4
Chad Humphreys
Andrew Applebee (incumbent)
Jeff Brockman
Dustin Geier
Nicholas B. Mancuso (incumbent)
Board member, Vote for 3
Erik D. Englehart (incumbent)
Candace Oropeza
John Morse (incumbent)
Traci Griffin-Lappe
Two-year term, Vote for 2
Douglas Smith (31N Range 1W)
Mitch Wilson (31N Range 1W)
Nathanael Bird (32N Range 2W) (incumbent)
Michael Borri (32N Range 2W) (incumbent)
Four-year term, Vote for 4
Matthew Holst (32N Range 1W) (incumbent)
Thomas “Tom” Wiesbrock (32N Range 1W) (incumbent)
Reed Wilson (31N Range 1W) (incumbent)
Scott Zemanek (32N Range 2W)
Amy Fay
Not more than two candidates can come from the 32N Range 2W area.
Board member, Vote for 4
Paula Jo Baker (incumbent)
Andrew Verstraete
Stephen P. Newman (incumbent)
Allyson H. Schiltz (incumbent)
Angela Ryan (incumbent)
Board member, Vote for 4
James Melton (incumbent)
Mallory DeMay
Whitney M. Mitchell-DeWitte (incumbent)
Tya M. Boucher (incumbent)
Katie Selburg
An unexpired two-year term is also up this election but no candidate has filed in the race.
Board member, Vote for 3
Matthew J. Blakemore
Gary F. Wargo (incumbent)
Kimberly Ann Zavada
Richard M. Tutoky (incumbent)
Megan Black
Trustee, Vote for 2
Douglas L. Strand (incumbent)
Mark Carlson
Jon A. Looney
Dougal Nelson
Six-year term, Vote for 2
William Hunt
Lynda Marlene Moshage
Todd Volker
Trustee, Vote for 2
Gale Thetford
Christine Bare-Kemper
Diane Unes Lamb
Kim Armstrong
Ron Budzinski is running unopposed for a two-year term.
Six-year term, Vote for 3
Maureen Flanagan Broderick (incumbent)
Elaine Bottomley
Nancy Garcia (incumbent)
Timothy John Broderick
Robert Wunderlich
Timothy Bradley
Our coverage: “Joliet Junior College trustee candidates say programs need broader appeal for more students”
“2 Joliet Junior College trustees create ‘hostile atmosphere’ for president, staff: report”
Trustee, Vote for 2
David Edelbach
Tom Demmer (incumbent)
Danelle Burrs (incumbent)
Six-year term, Vote for 2
Daniel Jaquez
Greg Dobbins
Tina Medlin Willson
Richard “Rick” Guzman is running unopposed for a four-year term.
Judd Weber
Justin Gifford
Bill Novicki
Jacob Johns
Shall the city of Oglesby adopt the managerial form of municipal government?
Our coverage: “Yes, it’s binding: The Oglesby referendum isn’t advisory”
From the opinion page: “Vote yes for Oglesby city manager on April 1″
“Vote no for Oglesby city manager on April 1″
Shall the Waltham School District 185 board issue $9.96 million in bonds to build and equip an addition to the Waltham School building?
Shall the Ohio High School District 505 school board be allowed to close Ohio High School and send students to Amboy School District 272 or Bureau Valley School District 340?
Our coverage: “Ohio residents ask about potential high school closure; question to be on April 1 ballot”
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Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network