Huntley Trustees Reject Mayor's Appointment

A tie vote Thursday nullified Mayor Charles Sass’s appointment of former Trustee Jay Kadakia.

“I am really surprised,” Trustee Harry Leopold said following the vote.

Earlier this week, Leopold said he expected Kadakia would be reappointed to fill a spot vacated by Paul Mercer, a former Sun City Huntley resident who moved to Arizona last month. However, three trustees voiced opposition Thursday night, calling into question the way his appointment was handled and why Kadakia was chosen after he lost in the April election.

“One of the things I see out of all this is the fact all of us that got elected are here to fill the will of the people,” Trustee John Piwko said. “The results of the last election showed clearly the people chose not to put this person back in office.”

Kadakia lives in Sun City where he was the third highest vote getter. He lost the election in other precincts in the village.

It would have been nice to be privy to the other people Sass had in mind for the position, Piwko said, and maybe with additional choices, this would have worked out.

“At this time, I cannot support it,” he said.

Piwko, along with Trustees Nick Hanson and Pam Fender, voted no. Sass, Leopold and Trustee Nikko Kanakaris voted yes.

Sass said he was “gung ho” to appoint Kadakia six weeks ago and brought up his name to trustees. He decided to take a step back and think about the other names trustees suggested as appointees as well as consider a few letters of interest from the public.

“I sat down and evaluated the pros and cons," Sass said. "They were all capable people. I think sometimes with our great staff they make it look like the job is easy. There is a learning curve. We are presently going through a budget and it is difficult times. It is not a decision I take lights in terms of who to support.

“I feel Jay Kadakia is the most qualified person for the appointment. During my 14 or 15 years on the board, he is the most thoroughly prepared individual I know."

“I’ve thought about it and I still feel he is the best to appoint,” Sass said, before the vote. “It is still up to the trustees. I think Jay is the most qualified individual.”

Leopold said he supported the appointment, echoing Sass’s observation that Kadakia did his homework. He is qualified and can hit the ground running, he said.

“Personally, I like Jay. He’s a nice man and I have always shad a good working relationship with him,” Fender said. “I don’t know if he’s been as respected as well as he should have been.”

What concerned Fender was the way Sass chose to make the appointment, she said. She felt she was being force fed to choose Kadakia, she said.

“I don’t think anyone was forcing it down, ok,” Sass said.

Fender said she would have preferred to have discussions on the appointment, which did not happen. Sass said there was a discussion six weeks ago.

“And you ignored what we said,” Fender replied.

“I didn’t ignore what you said,” Sass said. “I still have the same opinion. Jay was the same choice. “

Following the meeting, Sass said he would not change the way he makes appointments because there’s nothing wrong with it. He did not indicate what steps he would take next, however, he had said he wanted to appoint someone from Sun City.

Hanson said he’d like to see the board consider candidates from that community, including women who are underrepresented on the board.

Kadakia is still interested in an appointment but it is unlikely his name will resurface.

“It’s the community’s loss if they don’t want me,” he said. “I am willing to start working. It’s up to them.”