La Grange Official Seeks Higher Office

LA GRANGE, IL — Lou Gale, a La Grange village trustee, plans to seek the Democratic nomination for 17th District Cook County Board commissioner, a seat held by Republican Sean Morrison.

Gale, a corporate lawyer, has been elected twice to the La Grange Village Board.

The 17th District is made up of more than 300,000 residents and includes all or parts of La Grange, Western Springs, Burr Ridge, La Grange Park, Countryside, Palos Park, Tinley Park and Orland Park, among other towns.

"I know the needs of a district like this because I’ve done the work for the last five years on the La Grange Village Board where I strived to bring opposing sides and viewpoints together to keep our communities safe for families, invest in local infrastructure, prepare for the impacts of climate change, and support a growing economy that allows workers and business owners to thrive," Gale said in a news release Monday morning.

Gale said the 17th District needed a representative who would focus on rebuilding and bringing people together after the pandemic, "not continually driving them apart for pure partisan gain."

Morrison could not be reached for immediate comment Monday on Gale's candidacy. He was appointed in 2015 and narrowly won the 2018 election. He is one of two Republicans on the 17-member board.

In his news release, Gale touted endorsements from U.S. Rep. Marie Newman, D-La Grange, and state Treasurer Michael Frerichs, a Democrat.

"As a suburban dad with experience in local government, Lou Gale will be a great addition to the Cook County Board in representing the 17th District," Newman said in the release. "I can’t wait to work with him to solve problems by bringing all levels of government together."

At a Village Board meeting in September, Gale criticized the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. He contended the district stood in the way of the village's effort to solve its flooding problem.

Later the same month, Kristen Gale, Gale's wife, spoke during public input against a proposal to forgive loans to the La Grange Theatre, which she called "corporate socialism."

"I am actually kind of disgusted by how much I hear from the business community in La Grange, fearmongering and how it might leave La Grange, how they're suffering," Kristen Gale said during public comments. "We're not a charity to ensure that your business makes money. In fact, this whole past 18 months, a lot of people bent over backwards to keep these businesses in business during COVID."

The Village Board later approved a plan that included forgiving of the loans. Officials said the new agreement with the theater would increase the likelihood of its long-term survival. Lou Gale voted in favor of the plan.

In an email, Gale said he would resign from the Village Board if elected county commissioner.

The Democratic and Republicans primaries are June 28. The general election is Nov. 8.

Cook County commissioners make $85,000 a year.