Challengers sweep races for Freeport City Council
FREEPORT — Five new faces were elected to Freeport’s City Council on Tuesday, in two cases knocking out incumbents with more than a decade on the governing body.
Peter McClanathan (2nd Ward), Art Ross (3rd Ward), Jodi Miller (4th Ward) and Patrick Busker (5th Ward) all defeated the incumbents, while newcomer Andrew Chesney was elected alderman at large unopposed.
After a 2012 referendum vote to stagger the terms, aldermen from even-numbered wards will serve a two-year term and seek re-election in 2017. Four-year terms will resume for all wards after the 2017 elections. Odd-numbered wards and the alderman at large terms remain at four years.
In the 5th Ward, Busker defeated Dennis Endress 51.75 percent to 48.25 percent, respectively, the closest margin of the four contested races, according to unofficial totals that do not include absentee and grace-period ballots. Only 12 votes separated the two.
“I’m just soaking it all in right now,” Busker said of the victory. “It’s been a lot of hard work, and there’s going to be a lot more hard work ahead of us. We’ve got a good crew coming in here, and I think we’re going to make some things happen.”
Meanwhile, McClanathan defeated 14-year incumbent Shawn Boldt 64.98 percent to 35.02 percent, respectively, for the city’s 2nd Ward, while Miller defeated Jennie DeVine 81.68 percent to 18.32 percent, respectively.
“I’m completely honored by the results,” Miller said. “I want to be a part of moving Freeport in the right direction, and to be given the opportunity by the 4th Ward is an honor.”
Boldt offered his congratulations to McClanathan.
“No one has a permanent lease on any seat,” Boldt said. “I wish him well, and hope that he will always do what is in the best interest of the city, not just the special interest groups. I look forward to helping Peter transition into his new role so he may be effective for us all.”
In the city’s 3rd Ward, Art Ross defeated 26-year council member Ronnie Bush 57.56 percent to 42.44 percent, respectively. Ross is a five-year veteran of the Freeport Police Department and 15-year owner and operator of Ross Auto Glass, while Bush retired in 2007 after working at the Kelly Springfield Tire factory for 34 years.
Mayor Jim Gitz said that no matter who sits on the Council, the three primary objectives — economic development, public safety and neighborhood improvement — remain the same. The new council members will officially be seated May 4, and Gitz hopes they do their research during the interim.
“You don’t just simply walk in and take your seat,” Gitz elaborated. “There’s a lot of things that you learn about over time that affect what we can and can’t do.”
Gitz said that, “given the way the campaigns were waged,” he wasn’t surprised by the results, but declined to elaborate further.