Lake Election Board cancels elections in municipalities without challengers
There will be no regular general November election in Whiting, New Chicago, St. John and Griffith where the incumbents all are running unchallenged, while residents in Lake Station will be asked to continue to help fund school operations.
The Lake County board of elections voted Tuesday to cancel the elections in the four communities after no independent candidates signed up to run against the candidates left unchallenged after the May primary and the deadline for independents to sign up for a spot on the ballot. Officials also approved certifying the public question for the referendum for Lake Station Community Schools.
Since a referendum question already has been placed on the November ballot for the School City of Whiting, the election there will still occur.
“Since we cancelled the election in Whiting, it becomes a special election,” Michelle Fajman, director of the Lake County Board of Elections, said.
In Lake Station, the latest Lake County school system to seek financial assistance from voters in the fall, officials are looking to extend for an additional eight years the operating referendum originally approved in 2017. The move would keep the tax rate at the current 54 cents per $100 of assessed valuation for property owners, according to the question.
The referendum is expected to raise about $1.33 million a year. According to documents from the Department of Local Government Finance, $466,104 will be used for school bus transportation; $332,931 each for maintaining and expanding academic programs and recruitment and retention of teachers and staff; $133,173 for student safety and security services, and $66,586 for other educational needs.
Republicans in Griffith all will retain their seats in the absence of any challenges. Gina Smith remains Clerk-Treasurer, while council incumbents Jim Marker in Ward 1, Larry Ballah in Ward 2, Rick Ryfa in Ward 3, Melissa Robbins in Ward 4, and Tony Hobson in Ward 5 will be re-elected.
In St. John, a second Republican stronghold, Beth Hernandez remains Clerk-Treasurer, but there will be some new faces on the town council due to primary results. Wayne Pondinas will retain his at-large council seat, while Ann Oster will succeed Bryan Blazak in Ward 1, former Lake County Councilman Christian Jorgensen will be the Ward 2 councilman, and Mike Bouvat will become the second at-large councilman.
On the Democratic side of things, Whiting and New Chicago will see their incumbents returned to office. Mayor Steve Spebar will continue to lead Whiting along with Clerk-Treasurer John Haynes. Council members include Mark Harbin, District 1; Rebeca Michko, District 2; Tom Michniewicz, District 3; and Chris Sarvanidis and Shawn Turpin, in the at-large seats.
New Chicago’s current Clerk-Treasurer Dorothy Zimmer is retiring, and as Democrat Tammy Bucko was the only candidate to run to succeed her, Bucko will become the town’s new Clerk-Treasurer in January. The town council includes Jim Gibson, Ward 1; Dave Anderson, Ward 2; Sharon Szwedo, Ward 3; Roxanne Greco, Ward 4; and Brenda Swallow, Ward 5.
