CHICAGO — Three Republican candidates have launched campaigns for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Board of Commissioners after an objection to their nominating paperwork was withdrawn.
Michelle Pennington, Timothy Rueckert and Jill Shestokas are seeking seats in the Nov. 3 general election, according to an announcement from the Cook County Republican Party.
Party officials characterized the objection as politically motivated and said its withdrawal secured the candidates' places on the ballot. Patch has not independently reviewed the complete objection record or the circumstances surrounding its withdrawal.
The MWRD is governed by nine commissioners elected countywide. Three commissioners are elected every two years to six-year terms. The board establishes agency policy and provides financial oversight of the district's wastewater treatment, stormwater management, and water-quality operations.
"These candidates understand how critical MWRD is to protecting our water supply, improving water quality and reducing destructive flooding," Cook County Republican Party Chairman Terry Carr said in the announcement.
Carr said the three candidates would bring professional experience, public-service backgrounds and an emphasis on fiscal oversight to the board.
The Republican slate was assembled during an April 29 special meeting in McCook, shortly after Carr was elected chairman of the county party.
According to the party, the candidates submitted 5,385 petition signatures. An objection later challenged a discrepancy in their paperwork that listed the slating meeting as taking place May 29 rather than April 29.
The party said affidavits and other evidence supported April 29 as the correct date.
Attorney David Shestokas, Jill Shestokas' husband, submitted a legal brief addressing the date discrepancy. The objector withdrew the challenge shortly before a scheduled evidentiary hearing, according to the Republican announcement.
David Shestokas argued that the challenge was not focused on the validity of the petition signatures.
"When candidates submit significantly more signatures than required by law — signatures gathered by more than 100 volunteers who believe voters deserve a choice — an objection that never even attempts to challenge those signatures is not about protecting election integrity," he said.
He said the candidates had filed their affidavits and witness list and were prepared to present their case at the hearing.
The party's account of the dispute and withdrawal was also published by the Northside GOP Club.
Pennington is managing director of Medill Partners, a real estate holding and development company.
She has also worked with nonprofit organizations supporting Chicago Public Schools and has participated in neighborhood groups, including Friends of Holstein Park. She studied economics at DePaul University, according to the campaign announcement.
Pennington said the agency must combine environmental protection with careful financial management.
“MWRD’s mission of protecting our water supply, improving water quality and reducing flooding is critically important,” Pennington said. “I also believe MWRD must ensure that not a penny of taxpayers’ money is wasted.”
Rueckert served eight years as Northfield Township highway commissioner.
During his tenure, he worked on flood-control and drainage initiatives involving the Road District and MWRD, including projects at Citation Lake, Northbrook West and the Central Road Drainage District in unincorporated Glenview, according to the campaign.
The township Road District maintains approximately 23 miles of roads in unincorporated areas. Rueckert also expanded its recycling program, the campaign said.
Rueckert formerly worked in law enforcement for the Illinois Secretary of State, Illinois Gaming Board and Illinois Department of Revenue. He earned a bachelor's degree in accounting and finance from Arizona State University and owns a small business with his wife near their home in unincorporated Glenview.
"Having worked on flood mitigation, first as a member of the Glenview Countryside Homeowner's Association and then as highway commissioner, I understand how MWRD can work effectively with local, state and federal governments to protect our residents and our water," Rueckert said.
Jill Shestokas previously served as the MWRD's public affairs manager, working on policy, legislative affairs and public education, according to the campaign.
The announcement said her environmental education and public-affairs work received multiple national awards. She earned a degree in journalism and human ecology from the University of Maryland.
Shestokas said the agency's work is often most visible to residents during flooding or other water-related problems.
"Most Cook County residents do not think about the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District until heavy rains threaten their homes, streets begin to flood or beaches close after major storms," she said.
She said commissioners should explain the agency's work and how public funding supports wastewater infrastructure, water quality and flood reduction.
The MWRD serves Chicago and 128 suburban Cook County communities. Its responsibilities include treating wastewater, managing stormwater and protecting local waterways and Lake Michigan. The agency operates seven water reclamation plants and treats an average of about 1.2 billion gallons of wastewater daily.
The commissioners serve in part-time, salaried positions. The board elects a president, vice president and finance chairman from among its members every two years.
Countywide early voting for the Nov. 3 general election is scheduled to begin Oct. 19, according to the Republican campaign announcement.
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