Politics & Government

Newcomer Rippy Lands Village Board Seat; Fay, Lamb Get New Terms

Naperville firefighter places fourth in bid for three board vacancies.

Joliet lawyer Dan Rippy, who campaigned on a pledge to bring more development to town in order to lower taxes, was elected to the Plainfield Village Board Tuesday night, as were incumbent trustees Paul Fay and Bill Lamb.

With all of the ballots counted in Will and Kendall counties, Fay was the top vote-getter, securing 29 percent of the vote – 1,220 of the 4,229 votes cast. Rippy placed second with 1,165 votes, followed by Lamb with 1,040.

Newcomer Mark Allan Chmura, a Naperville firefighter, was odd man out in the four-way race to fill three board seats. He lagged behind Lamb with 797 votes.

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Rippy said the campaign was exhausting but the results satisfying.

“It’s an absolute honor to be elected,” he said. “I thank all of the people who supported me and have given me their trust.”

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The election was a relatively smooth one, with the only controversy coming from people who suggested Lamb had a conflict of interest by serving as both a village trustee and as president of the Lakelands Community Homeowners Association.

Lakelands has been involved in a lawsuit in which the association’s plans to build a berm to protect the subdivision from DuPage River flooding has been legally challenged by neighbors.

Lamb, a retired chemical engineer who has served on the village board since 2005, has steadfastly maintained that no conflict exists, and said Tuesday that no one has ever publicly approached him about the issue.

He lauded his fellow candidates for running positive, above-board campaigns. He said he’s eager to start “planning for the future” so that the village is ready when the economy starts to turn around.

“I’m pleased the voters have apparently elected me to another term,” Lamb said.

Fay, director of adult education for a non-profit religious group, has served on the board since 2001. He could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.

The seat Rippy will be filling is currently held by Larry Kachel, who was appointed to the board two years ago and opted not to seek election to a full term.


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