Meet Lemont Village Trustee Candidate Ron Stapleton

LEMONT, IL — The upcoming election is less than a week away, and early voting has already started. In Lemont, one of the contested local races is the race for village board trustee. There are three open positions on the board, and Ron Stapleton is one of the four candidates running.

Stapleton lives in Lemont and has five children, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He is affiliated with the Lemont Party and is running with candidates Rick Sniegowski and Janelle Kittridge.

Stapleton is a current member of the village board and has served on the board for 16 years. He has also previously served on the planning and zoning commission and on the zoning board of appeals commission.

Stapleton believes the most pressing issue facing the board is financing and hopes the 1 percent sales tax referendum will pass.

"Because the state reduced our share of the income tax, we are falling short," he said. "In the past several years we have reduced staff by 20 percent and cut back on infrastructure repairs. We can’t reduce any more [and] still be a viable municipality."

Other issues that define Stapleton's campaign platform include: controlling new real estate development, keeping small town character with historic preservation, promoting new and existing businesses, and preserving and increasing the number of public recreation areas along the I&M Canal and the quarries.

"I have proven my trustworthiness during my 24 years of service to the village of Lemont," Stapleton said.

There are three open positions on the village board in the April 2 election. The three other candidates are Traci Sarpalius, Rick Sniegowski and Janelle Kittridge.

If you are a candidate in the upcoming April 2 election, you can email andrea.earnest@patch.com for a candidate questionnaire.