See Who Wants To Be Elmhurst Alderman

ELMHURST, IL — Seven men and two women have applied for the vacant Ward 2 position on the Elmhurst City Council. They are vying to fill the seat long held by Norman Leader, who resigned in September because he moved.

The nine candidates have submitted their applications to the city, which Elmhurst Patch obtained through a public records request. The applicants have lived in Elmhurst anywhere from 2½ to 30 years.

The mayor has the power to appoint replacements, with the council's approval.

In an email to Patch on Friday, city spokeswoman Kassondra Schref said Mayor Steve Morley is finishing interviews of the applicants. "A decision has not been made yet," she said.

Ward 2 is on the city's northwest side and includes Berens Park and Emerson School. The other Ward 2 alderman is Bob Dunn.

Read the resumes, applications and cover letters of the nine applicants for City Council.

The vacant seat is up for election in April.

This is the third time this year that the mayor will nominate a council member. The other two were in Ward 1 and Ward 4.

Here is information from the applications about the nine candidates:

• Tristan Dacre — A 20-year resident of Elmhurst, Dacre is the founding partner and managing principal of the architectural firm Dacre & Youngquist in Chicago. He has a bachelor of architecture and bachelor of science in environmental science degrees from Ball State University in Indiana. He is a parishioner at Immaculate Conception Church, a former cub master of Pack 25 and former coach in the Elmhurst Baseball and Softball League. "I bring professional experience in commercial and residential construction projects with a detailed knowledge of building and zoning codes from my multi-state practice in architecture," Dacre said in his application.
• Jacob Hill — A 17-year resident of Elmhurst, Hill is an associate professor, university librarian and veteran services officer at Elmhurst College. He received a master's degree of library and information science from Dominican University and a master's degree of business administration from Elmhurst College. He has been a member of the York Community Advisory Committee. In his application, he said he has a history of community involvement in Elmhurst's second and fifth wards.
• Taylor Holop — A 2½-year resident of Elmhurst, Holop is the senior director of corporate operations for New Home Star Corp. He has a law degree from Mississippi College and a bachelor's degree in business administration from Millsaps College in Mississippi. He is a member of the Elmhurst Public Library board and a member of the Elmhurst College Future Leaders Committee. In his application, Holop said he would bring to the position his legal and business educational background. He said he has experience with TIF funding and open government laws.
• Kevin Loster — Loster who has lived a combined 27 years in Elmhurst, is a senior tax analyst at Adtalem Global Education. He is a 2005 graduate of York High School. He received a bachelor's degree in economics and master's degrees in business administration and accounting, all from Keller University in Illinois. He is a licensed certified public accountant. "I have always loved this town," Loster said in his application. "I would love to be able to give back to a town that I felt has always given so much to me."

• Richard Mandigo — Mandigo, who has lived in Elmhurst a combined 23 years, is a hospitality consultant at TR Mandigo & Co and an adjunct faculty member of National Louis University. He received a bachelor's degree in liberal arts from Bard College in New York and has three classes left to complete his master's degree in public policy at National Louis University. He has been a volunteer scout leader and an election judge. "I would be able to apply my knowledge of project feasibility, revenue management, financial analysis and interest in public policy to this position," Mandigo said in his application
• Karen Ma-Scalise — A five-year resident of Elmhurst, Ma-Scalise is the director of operations and business development at Leading Edge CDM Solutions. She received a bachelor's degree in health information management from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is also a dance instructor. "The political climate is very polarized right now," she said in her application. "I think more than ever, in order for everyone to grow closer, we need to have people who can see the big picture and can unite people."
• Jake Meding — A 30-year resident of Elmhurst, Meding is the annual fund manager for the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation. He received his bachelor's degree in political science and master's degree in business administration from Elmhurst College. The Elmhurst native has been a member of the Beerfest Committee, raised more than 25,000 pounds of food for the Yorkfield Presbyterian Church Pantry and coordinated multiple golf outings to raise money for various groups in the western suburbs, including Trinity Volunteer Corps. "I have always been interested in local government, pursuing my undergraduate degree in political science," Meding said in his application.
• Gordon Snyder — A 22-year resident of Elmhurst, Snyder works in construction operations at Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick Inc. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa. He has been the treasurer of the Emerson PTA, a trustee at Yorkfield Presbyterian Church, a volunteer at Yorkfield Food Pantry, and a coach with Elmhurst Eagles and other local leagues. "We originally came to Elmhurst because of its proximity to the airport and major highways, but have stayed because we love the community and people who live here," Snyder said in his application.
• Beth Wrobel — A 14-year resident of Elmhurst, Wrobel is a language lab coordinator at Oakton Community College in Des Plaines and Skokie, a position she has held since 1995. She received her master's degree in community counseling from Northeastern Illinois University and a bachelor's degree in communications from Trinity International University in Deerfield. She has been a Hispanic Heritage Month Committee organizer. "I believe this is a critical time in our city and country to make sure that all voices are represented and heard," she said in her application.