Hoag, Mitros, Kimmons Win Flossmoor's Tight Trustee Race

FLOSSMOOR, IL — Official results are in for the trustee race that had Flossmoor residents on the edge of their seats: Incumbents Perry Hoag and James Mitros, and newcomer Gyata Kimmons have won the battle for the four-year term.

Write-in candidate Michelle Nelson, however, gave the opponents a run for their money. Only 51 votes separated her from Mitros.

Kimmons, who has been elected for the first time to office, congratulated all of the candidates.

"Congratulations to Perry Hoag and Jim Mitros on your successful re-election campaigns. I look forward to working with you and the rest of the Board as we tackle Village issues and promote our community," he said in a statement. "Thank you also to Michelle Nelson and Dave Bruni for your campaigns. Your participation in this election forced a level of engagement that would have never occurred without your participation. Your write-in ballot vote totals are truly inspiring. While you may have fallen short of your goal, your energy, perspective and participation continues to be needed to move our Village forward."

Earlier this month, the Cook County Board of Elections declined to declare a winner in Flossmoor's elections until it could canvass all votes and certify them by the April 23 deadline. At the time, Nelson and the candidate who ran with her, Dave Bruni, said they knew they "were within striking distance" of grabbing a seat at the table.

In a Facebook post, Bruni thanked his supporters and congratulated the winners. "I ran as a write in candidate to provide a choice for our Village Trustee seats, but more importantly, so that opportunities and progressive ideas could be discussed openly with a sense of urgency. I’m certain we accomplished that," he wrote.

Hoag, Mitros and Kimmons will be sworn in at the May 13 board meeting.

Hoag and Mitros have served as Flossmoor's trustees since 1995. Hoag is a partner with the Chicago law firm Cameli & Hoag P.C. Mitros is a property investor. Kimmons is the founder and CEO of Ridge Strategy Group.

A fourth trustee seat also is vacant after Phil Minga resigned earlier this year. The village is soliciting applications for appointees to the post. Under Illinois law, the appointed term will run until the next available election, which is in 2021.

Applications for the open seat will be accepted from April 24 to May 10 at 5 p.m. Learn more at www.flossmoor.org.

Also see: Who Won Flossmoor's Trustee Race? Write-ins' Clout Delays Results