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Clarendon Hills caucus approves candidates
Updated: December 16, 2012 12:59PM
CLARENDON HILLS — There were no surprises at a town hall meeting Monday for candidates slated by the Clarendon Hills Community Caucus for village offices in the April 9 election.
All 10 candidates won approval without a challenge from the floor.
Candidates endorsed for the Village Board are Don Knoll, Ed Reid and Eric Stach.
Earning the caucus’ nod for Park Board are Suzanne Austin, Bruce Carlsen and Greg Johnson.
Approved as the Library Board slate are Kimberly Glowniak, Margaret Kealy, Marcie Purcell and Joan Tuisl.
Village President Tom Karaba said he fully supported the caucus’s choices and recalled how important individual votes can be.
“I think it is a great slate,” Karaba said. “I am very happy with the candidates.”
Karaba first was slated in 1987 as a Clarendon Hills Community Caucus candidate for village trustee. Although he had the caucus’ backing, Karaba lost by three votes to a write-in candidate.
“And my sister didn’t vote, a friend of mine didn’t vote, and there were others,” Karaba said. “But it was the best thing that ever happened to me. Because of the caucus, I got appointed to the Zoning Board where I served for 13 years.”
After serving on the Zoning Board, Karaba won a trustee position, and in 2007, was elected village president. While the tale of early election defeat has a happy ending, Karaba said residents should support the caucus candidates.
“The slates deserve our support,” Karaba told the caucus Monday night. “I am so proud of the village and the work the caucus does.”
Jackie Anglin, who was chairman of the caucus’ Village Board selection panel, noted that all six of the individuals who were interviewed for the trustee positions would have served the village well.
“All six are really amazing people,” Anglin said.
She encouraged everyone in the village of voting age to get involved in the caucus process.
Running for a Village Board seat, Don Knoll is an 11-year resident of the community, who is finishing a term on the Park Board and serves as vice president.
Ed Reid is a 13-year resident of the village who is an entrepreneur, having started two companies. He has served the caucus in three different capacities over the years and is a member of the Notre Dame Church’s Men’s Club.
Eric Stach is a 10-year resident and graduated from the University of Notre Dame. He is a lawyer who counsels local governments on municipal law.
For Park Board, Greg Johnson is the current Park Board president and does an “outstanding job,” according to Don O’Toole, chairman of the caucus’ Park Board selection committee.
Bruce Carlsen is active in Notre Dame Church, works in Oak Brook and has experience officiating youth sports.
Suzanne Austin is a retired Chase banker, who has a master’s degree in business.
Running for Library Board, Kimberly Glowniak is a 15-year resident who has shown a dedication to the library, according to Greg Jordan, chairman of the caucus’ Library Board selection panel.
Margaret Kealy has a house across from the library and works for ABC Channel 7.
Marcie Purcell is the mother of five and a regular user of library resources.
Joan Tuisl is a religious education teacher at Notre Dame Church. ~.
