Two women run for mayor in Palos Park, while incumbents challenged in University Park, Country Club Hills and Park Forest
Two women are running for Palos Park mayor next year in bids to replace John Mahoney, who is not seeking reelection, while incumbent mayors in Country Club Hills, Park Forest and University Park face challenges.
Monday was the deadline for candidates running in the April 4 election to file their petitions. Challenges can be filed through Tuesday at the election office where the candidate filed or with the Illinois State Board of Elections.
It’s an off year for mayoral and village president elections, with most towns choosing leaders two years ago. Bridgeview Mayor Steven Landek and Hickory Hills Mayor Mike Howley are both unopposed for reelection, according to clerks in their respective towns.
Officials in Chicago Heights have not responded to inquiries on who has filed petitions to run for mayor.
Palos Park
In Palos Park, board member Nicole Milovich-Walters and attorney Ronette Leal McCarthy are running for mayor, said Deputy Village Clerk Lisa Boyle.
Mayor John Mahoney said it has been a privilege to be mayor, but decided not to seek a fifth term so he could spend more time with family.
“That work has required significant financial and other sacrifices from my family over the years so that I could take on and perform the role of mayor to the best of my ability,” Mahoney said. “I thank my wife, Mirella, and my children, Cara and John, for always supporting my work on behalf of the village that kept me away from home all too often.”
Milovich-Walters, a lifelong resident and an attorney, said she decided to run for mayor because after four terms on the board “it seemed like the natural progression.”
She said she’s enjoyed the balance of maintaining open land and ensuring economic growth. Having institutional knowledge of the village would make the transition seamless, she said.
Milovich-Walters, who has two adult daughters, said she’d like to continue to oversee projects she’s worked, such as $2 million in road construction over the next two years, the completion of approved playground and tennis court projects in the Parks and Recreation Department and the benefits of the annexation of Cog Hill Golf and Country Club and land west of Bell Road.
“It’s an exciting time. I really want to be part of what comes next,” Milovich-Walters said.
McCarthy, a former educator, said she’s an attorney with experience representing municipalities, park districts and police departments. McCarthy said she serves on the board of The McCord Gallery and Cultural Center in Palos Park and on the Palos Park Women’s Club.
McCarthy said community members and business leaders encouraged her to run. Because her children, a 15-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter, are older, she said she can now commit to public service.
Palos Park has a growing population of families with young children, McCarthy said, and the village should focus on programs and events for those families. McCarthy said she’s heard stories of families who go do activities outside of Palos Park.
“I think we should be making certain that we’re developing programs for our young children, that we’re able to educate them and to have them become positive community members,” McCarthy said.
Country Club Hills
Incumbent Country Club Hills Mayor James Ford is facing three challengers, including two aldermen.
Ford, formerly the city’s 4th Ward alderman, was first elected mayor in 2015.
Challenging him are 3rd Ward Ald. Lisa Evans, first elected in 2013, and 4th Ward Ald. Ricardo Spivey, appointed in 2015 to when Ford became mayor. A fourth candidate is Clifton Graham.
Both Spivey and Evans were reelected in 2021 so they are not up for election as alderman this spring, giving them a free shot at ousting Ward but keeping their aldermanic positions should they come up short.
University Park
University Park Mayor Joseph E. Roudez III will face challenges from Trustee Theo Brooks and Trustee Sonia Jenkins-Bell, said Village Clerk Dorothy Jones.
Brooks said he wants to improve the village’s finances after four years of failed economic policies and bad budgeting. He said he wants to hold public officials accountable, like the former village manager who gave out bonuses without the board knowing.
“I hope the residents make a good choice,” Brooks said. “We are in deep, deep trouble.”
Roudez and Jenkins-Bell did not respond to requests for comment.
Brooks has clashed with Roudez and his administration in the past. In 2020, Brooks filed a lawsuit against the village and then village manager Ernestine Beck-Fulgham for failing to turn over billing statements and other financial information he’d requested.
In September, Brooks and Jenkins-Bell criticized Roudez for trying to increase his salary by $17,000, along with raises for other elected officials. Jenkins-Bell called the proposed increases disrespectful.
Park Forest
In Park Forest, first-term Mayor Jonathan Vanderbilt is being challenged by first-term trustee Joseph Woods.
Woods term on the village board expires, and is one of three board seats to be elected in April. Tiffani Graham filed for reelection, but incumbent Candyce Herron did not. Other candidates filing petitions are Andrew Gladstone, John V. Monroe, Joshua Travis and Randall White, according to the clerk’s office.
