Lambert Challenges Collins in Village President Race; 5 Vie for 3 Plainfield Trustee Seats

Filing is over for the April 9, 2013 consolidated election, and some Plainfield races are heating up.

Here's a look at who's running for local office this spring:

Village of Plainfield

Plainfield historian and architect (and Plainfield Patch columnist) Michael Lambert has entered the race for village president, challenging current Mayor Michael Collins.

One more candidate — Naperville firefighter Mark Allan Chmura — put in his papers Wednesday, becoming the fifth candidate in the running for three open seats.

He joins incumbents Margie Bonuchi, Jim Racich and Garrett Peck, plus local developer Michael Guinta, who submitted their petitions on the first day of filing. Because those four candidates filed simultaneously, they will be entered in a lottery to determine ballot placement.

The lottery is scheduled for 9 a.m. Jan. 2, 2013, in the village clerk's office at Village Hall.

Each of the three trustee seats carries a four-year term.

Plainfield School District

It's a five-way race for four open board of education seats.

The ballot will appear as follows:

• Michelle Smith (incumbent)
• Rod Westfall (incumbent)
• William Slabich
• William Dargan
• P. Anne Walchshauser

Plainfield Library Board

Nine people are in the running for four open library board seats:

• Mina Green
• Vicki Knight
• Patricia Miller
• David Schmidt
• Carl F. Gilmore
• Alice Adeszko
• Lauren Ledvina
• Gretchen Fritz
• Samantha Hurtado

Plainfield Park District

Candidates are as follows: Peter Steinys, Thomas G. Breier, incumbent Michael Brand and Janet Silosky.

There are two seats up for election, each carrying a six-year term.

Plainfield Fire Protection District

Four candidates are running for the two open seats on the fire board.

Joining David Hebert and James Lehmann in the race are William Barnes and Ashley Sandstrom.

The seats carry a six-year term.

Plainfield Township

All township offices — including the four trustee spots, supervisor, clerk, assessor, tax collector and highway commissioner — are up for re-election in April.

Candidates from both the Plainfield Township Democrats and Plainfield Township Republican organizations have entered the race. 

Because the Democrats won a lottery, those candidates will appear first on the ballot.

Candidates are as follows:

Plainfield Township Democrats:

• Supervisor: Richard Rodriguez
• Trustee: Kevin Clancy
• Tax collector: John Cryder

Plainfield Township Republicans:

• Supervisor: Tony Fremarek 
• Trustees: Chuck Willard, Matthew Starr, Ernie Knight, Debbie Kraulidis 
• Tax collector: Yvonne Sencial Bolton 
• Clerk: Anita Gerardy 
• Township assessor: Erin Kjlaich 
• Township highway commissioner: Sam Reichert 

Fremarek is currently a trustee, and Starr serves as tax collector. With the exception of Knight and Kraulidis, the remaining Republican candidates are incumbents.

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