5 Vie For Western Springs Trustee: Village

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – The Elmhurst City Council reveals the names of applicants for vacant council seats. But the Western Springs Village Board chooses to keep such information secret.

In recent days, Western Springs Village President Heidi Rudolph has reached out to five residents who have expressed interest in a trustee seat, spokeswoman Selmin Cicek said in an email Monday.

Rudolph also has reviewed the applicants' qualifications and found that all are committed to the village, Cicek said.

Once the new trustee is appointed, the village will share the person's biographical information, Cicek said. Such a decision is expected Monday night.

The village has no plan to release the names of the other applicants. This was the same process that the village followed in 2020 when it filled the trustee seat held by the late William Siffermann with Scott Lewis.

Through public records requests, Patch obtains the applications of those seeking vacant Elmhurst City Council seats. The latest example was in 2021.

Under state law, a public body is allowed to keep secret the names of applicants for vacancies in elected offices.

Last month, Rudolph, a trustee, was appointed as village president after the death of President Alice Gallagher, who took the helm in 2017.

Rudolph is still a trustee. She said she would resign from that role and then a new trustee would be sworn in.