The former Skokie Ann Tennes officer declared the victory within the race for the mayor of Skokie Tuesday, with unofficial outcomes from the Cook County County Country Office displaying that he commanded a powerful proportion of whole votes. The victory begins a brand new period within the village of about 65,000 after the 24 -year -old mayor George Van Dusen has chosen to not apply for an additional mandate.
The unofficial outcomes present that Tennes, former director of promoting and village communications, obtained simply over 49% of the votes, with all of the fences that report, in an electoral race for 3. These unofficial outcomes additionally confirmed David “Azi” Lifsics with simply over 38% of the votes and Charles ISHO with 12% of the votes.
“I’m so blissful for our neighborhood at the moment,” Tennes mentioned, addressing a crowd of about 100 supporters on the Louie bar in Skokie. “This was actually a primary effort and also you all be a part of you and I’m so grateful to it.”
Tennes was the one candidate within the tender that had been beforehand elected to public places of work, having held the position of trustee and president of the Council of the Board of Directors of the Oakton College when known as Oakton Community College.
Tennes takes the helm within the village at a time when the Westfield Old Orchard procuring middle, thought-about the most effective financial engine of the village, is reinvented as residential and leisure, in addition to retail, vacation spot.
Many residents are additionally anxious to see the middle of Skokie and Main Street reinvigorated with the financial exercise and the village has taken measures to develop the Illinois Science + Technology Park. The shell of a semi-built resort looms on Oakton Street within the middle of Skokie and is simply one other of the numerous articles that the brand new administration must handle.
In addition, political activism has sprung up in Skokie lately, with calls by some residents for inexpensive lodging, protections for immigrants and different points. The elections of April 1 which have launched Tennes are historic, which symbolize the primary time that 4 seaside trustees might be elected by 4 geographical districts contained in the village. They will be a part of two trustees normally elected by the entire village on the village council. The reformers supported modifications as a means to make sure that the village council had a illustration in varied Skokie neighborhoods.
Tennes mentioned ISHO admitted them and that the 2 will open the bread subsequent week.
“I assured him (ISHO) that I really like and recognize the joint neighborhood and I understand how necessary they’re for Skokie,” Tennes mentioned.
Tennes, who had the help of former village officers together with the previous director of the Rigoni village, claimed that his marketing campaign and purpose is to be impartial of the previous Skokie political machine, the Skokie Caucus occasion and by characters floating a referendum to create an electoral reform within the village. This reform included the creation of these fiduciary districts, in addition to guaranteeing non -partisan elections and the creation of staggered phrases for members of the village council, in order that some are elected each two years.
In Skokie, the mayor’s place is paid an annual wage of $ 35,000. Last yr, Skokie Trustees took into consideration the concept of giving the mayor an adaptation of three% of the price of dwelling, however ultimately they determined to not do it.
Tennes beforehand advised Chicago Tribune in a candidate questionnaire that whereas he was used on the village, he represented Skokie on the Skokie Festival of Cultures Board and Committees Executive (1999-2023); The North Shore Convention & Visitors Bureau Committees of Chicago (2002-2023) and led the Task Force of Marketing of the Skokie Chamber of Commerce in 2018.
He mentioned that since he retired from the situation of the village, he continues to behave as vice -president of the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts Foundation Board, and has additionally been a part of the Skokie Community Foundation board from 2019 to 2024, appearing as president of the Council from 2023 to 2024.
Before shifting to Skokie in 2010, he mentioned he had served on the Park Ridge Zoning Council of Appeal from 1997 to 2010, appearing as president of the Council for the final seven years of his service.
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