Anaya Withdraws From Village Board Race

Twenty nine-year-old Pedro 'Pete' Anaya withdrew his name Sunday night from the list of candidates running for the Mokena village board in April. In a letter sent to local media, Anaya said commitments to his job and his family prevented him from continuing his campaign.

"Being 29 and father of a 3-year-old daughter and a newborn boy demands much time," Anaya wrote in the letter. "After sitting with my wife of five years, Kristin and I decided that it would not be fair to commit to this position, if I cannot be there for my family first."

Since Anaya's withdrawal from the race, Mokena residents will have four candidates to choose from for three open positions on April 5: incumbents Debbie Engler and Don Labriola, as well as challengers Bob Poole and James Richmond.