Village Trustee Resigns After Taking Job In California

The Lake Zurich Village Board now has one vacant seat after the resignation of Trustee Mark Ernst, effective July 31. 

The announcement was made at the board meeting Monday night. Ernst was not at the meeting.

A newcomer to the board, he was elected April 5 after running on the Lake Zurich Vision Party ticket with Trustee Dana Rzeznik and Jenny Talley.   

Prior to that, he said that his business, Ernst Enterprises, was seriously affected by the economy.

"I undertook a job search beginning May of 2010. It was a slow and frustrating process," Ernst wrote in a letter to Mayor Suzanne Branding.

He went on to say that he unexpectedly was introduced to a company while visiting his daughter in California, and after a series of interviews, was offered a job which began April 25.

Having commuted between Illinois and California previously, he decided to continue on as a trustee to make sure the job was a good fit before he made any decisions.

"After three months, it turned out to be a great fit, and I realized I couldn't do justice to the village and my job, and serve in a complete capacity," Ernst said.

"When I decided to run for village trustee, it was to help bring reasonableness and balance to the board. I am disappointed I will be unable to continue that work," Ernst said.

Ernst is now the vice president of human resources in southern California for Young's Market Company, a 122-year-old family-owned business that distributes wine and spirits in 10 western states.

"I needed a job and am a victim of the recession; this is one of those times where I am getting an incomplete, but I don't have any misgivings for my decision," Ernst said.

"Part of me is very sad. I like Lake Zurich and it is a very special place for me," Ernst said. "I will keep it in my heart for years to come."

Mayor Branding announced at the meeting that Ernst's seat will need to be filled, and that the village is open to suggestions from residents on a replacement.