Candidates Run on United Lake Zurich Party Slate

The United Lake Zurich Party filed its nominating papers for six individuals to be placed on the April 9, 2013 ballot:  Suzanne K. Branding for Village President; Kathleen Johnson for Village Clerk; Helmut Gerlach, Todd Minden, Ildiko Schultz, and Debra Vander Weit for Village Trustees. 

Suzanne Branding was born and raised in Lake Zurich before moving away for a number of years, returning to Lake Zurich eight years ago.  Ms. Branding, a graduate of Ela Vernon (now Lake Zurich) High school in Lake Zurich and the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, is married with 2 adult children.  Prior to raising her family, she was a sales, marketing, and training representative for a major Illinois telecommunications company. For the past four years, Ms. Branding has served as Village President (Mayor) of Lake Zurich, after serving two years as Village Trustee.  Ms. Branding and her husband operate Shady Oaks Bed and Breakfast in Lake Zurich. She is a member of the Illinois Bed and Breakfast Association, the Lake Zurich Lions Club, Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce. She is active in her local church, an avid gardener, and a trained master gardener.  

Kathleen Johnson is a 45 year resident of Lake Zurich. She had twenty-three year career in Early Childhood Education in Lake Zurich and Island Lake. For the last 2 years, Ms. Johnson has served as Village Clerk.  She has three adult children who attended May Whitney, Lake Zurich Junior High, and Lake Zurich High schools. She is active in her church and with helping at Emmaus House.

Helmut Gerlach, has lived in Lake Zurich since 2003.  Helmut is a transactional attorney, concentrating in commercial real estate and finance (with extensive background in development, architectural, construction, annexation and municipal transactions), commercial and business law with nearly thirty years of business and legal experience on a local and global level with several clients in the greater Lake Zurich area.  Helmut has served or is currently serving on various association or organization boards or committees for architectural, renovation, planning, financial or legal matters having been instrumentally involved in taking matters from inception through closing.  Helmut and his wife have a 15year old son who is a freshman at Lake Zurich High School. Helmut is involved with the high school’s programs through the “6th Man Club.”  He also actively participates in various charitable organizations including his church and as a volunteer “General Counsel” for Habitat for Humanity. 

Todd Minden has lived or worked in Lake Zurich for 37 years. Mr. Minden, his wife, and their two boys all graduated from Lake Zurich schools. His daughter currently is a sophomore at Lake Zurich High School. Todd has been in corporate management for over twenty years where he supports the national and international marketing efforts for some of the largest and best-known companies in the country. Todd served as a Plan Commissioner in Lake Zurich for six years. He is past President of Whitney Shores Home Owners Association and past President and Director of the LPOA. Todd also is certified by the Center for Creative Leadership, a member of the Direct marketing Association Committee on Environmental and Social Responsibility, a member of the Chicago chapter of Marketing Executives Network Group (MENG). He has been active as both a player and a coach for many area sports teams, including Lake Zurich Flames Football, Ela Soccer and Youth Baseball Association.

Ildiko Schultz is a 23 year resident of Lake Zurich.  Born in Gyor, Hungary, at the age of one, she and her family escaped to the United States after the collapse of the Hungarian revolution. She became a US citizen and has resided in the US ever since. She is an Accounting Director with a major, national insurance company headquartered in Illinois and has extensive leadership and management experience. Ms. Schultz received her undergraduate degree from Northeastern Illinois University, her MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management, and holds several insurance and finance related professional designations.  She is an active board member for several insurance industry groups and organizations, and she currently serves on the Lake Zurich Plan Commission.   Ildiko is married and has one son, who also lives in Lake Zurich; 2 stepdaughters, and 6 grandchildren. She and her husband volunteer and participate in year round activities to support Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital.

Debra Vander Weit is a 23 year resident of Lake Zurich. Ms. Vander Weit graduated from Elmhurst College, earning a Bachelor of Science in Finance.  Debra has more than 20 years’ experience in the real estate and financial services industries.  Her experience includes conducting due diligence and the underwriting of investments in residential and mixed-use development projects on behalf of institutional investment clients.  Debra also managed a $1 billion portfolio of real estate construction assets and has operations experience in the valuation and acquisition/sale of mortgage portfolios and related securities.  She is an Illinois licensed real estate broker.  She has a 16-year-old son who attends Lake Zurich High School and a 13-year-old daughter who attends Middle School North. Debra is a member of the Lake Zurich and Barrington Chambers of Commerce, the Lake Zurich Chamber Government Affairs Committee, and the Lake Zurich Rotary Club.  She is the past Treasurer of the Lake Zurich Bears Hockey Club.

This new release was submitted by the United Lake Zurich Party.