Lake Bluff Candidates Receive Spots on April Election Ballot

Lake Bluff resident Dee Tiffany liked seeing the familiar faces at Wednesday night's Town Meeting, especially those who took seats at the front table in the gymnasium of Lake Bluff Middle School.

Tiffany was one of approximately 50 residents who listened to candidates for village clerk, library board and the village board answer questions on a variety of subjects.

"These are people we know from the community. They're qualified. They have experience," Tiffany said. "Knowing what they've done in and for the community lets me know they're headed in the right direction."

The candidate slate recommended by the V.O.T.E. (Volunteers Organized To Elect) Lake Bluff Committee each received the required 51 percent vote from those voters present at the meeting to receive an official endorsement and spot on the April 2011 election ballot.

Steven Christensen, Mark Dewart and Kathy O'Hara have been endorsed for the three open Village Board positions. O'Hara is the only candidate currently on the board.

The board candidates answered a broad range of questions, covering housing, future budgets and volunteerism in the community.

According to O'Hara, the budgets are an ongoing concern for residents and an issue the board continues to work on.

"Once you have financial stability in a jar, you can do all these other things," she said. "That's the core and you can build."

Candidates also expressed their views on future business development for Lake Bluff, a big interest for residents like Barbara Munder.

"I haven't heard plans for development out west stated as clearly before," Munder said.

Kathy Meierhoff, Linda Verbeke and incumbent Judy Nickels were endorsed for the three open Library Board Positions.

Questions for the Library Board candidates concentrated on keeping the library relevant to all age groups. All three candidates agreed that teens are the hardest group to keep the library relevant maintain interest with, and special programs and collections need to be kept just for them.

The candidates were also asked for their opinion on service fees. Meierhoff and Nickels agreed the library is a lending center for materials belonging to the community and do not favor fees, while Verbeke said she would consider each fee issue as it arises.

The only candidate for village clerk, Bill Meyer, was also endorsed.