Independent Blurs Vision Party Sweep For Lake Zurich Village Board

After a long and often heated battle for three open trustee seats, two of the Lake Zurich Vision Party slate and an independent party candidate have been elected to the Lake Zurich Village Board, according to unofficial Lake County Clerk results.

Of the 5,175 votes cast, incumbent Dana Rzeznik was the top vote getter with  1,143 votes or 22.09 percent of the vote.  Her fellow Vision Party candidate  Mark Ernst came in second place with 1,058 votes or 20.44 percent of the vote. Independent Tom Poynton won the third and final position on the board with  1,026 votes or 19.83 percent of the votes.

Vision Party member Jennifer Talley was fourth with 997 votes or 19.27 percent of the votes. Former Mayor and Independent John Tolomei had just 951 votes or 18.38 percent of the vote. Voter turnout for the entire county was just 14.98 percent or 60,787 of the 405,690 voters. Nearly 5 percent of the ballots cast were early or mail-in votes.

"We have tough and challenging years ahead of us," said Rzeznik. "I'm glad I can be a part of change. I thank the voters and I will work hard on their behalf." 

Rzeznik is an 18-year resident of Lake Zurich and has served as village trustee since her appointment in 2009.  Rzeznik filled the seat left vacant when current Village President Suzanne Branding was elected mayor in 2009. Elected president of Emmaus House of Hospitality for two consecutive years, Rzeznik was also honored as the 2009 Citizen of the Year in Lake Zurich and was profiled as Volunteer of the Year in the Chicago Tribune in 2009.  She is married and has two grown sons.

"I think it's significant because it says Lake Zurich residents want to move forward and are tired of business as usual," said Ernst. "The old ways are finally done and I look forward to working with the board and moving village business forward."

Newcomer  Ernst, 61 has been a Lake Zurich resident for six years.  He is a currently a trustee of the Lake Zurich Police Pension Board, on the board of directors for the Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce, and served the past two years as president of the Lake Property Owner’s Association. He is married with five children and five grand-children.

"The first thing is to thank the voters who supported me, especially my close circle," said Poynton. "I would also like to thank John Tolomei for running a clean above board issues-based campaign. I appreciate that because that's how I did it."

"Now we move forward with what needs to be done to make the village better," Poynton said.

Poynton, 64 is a 26-year resident of the village. He was elected to his first term as village trustee in 2007.  Poynton has served on the Lake Zurich Village Board Public Safety and Finance committees, the Citizens and Police Advisory Committee, acted as a liaison to the Building and Zoning department and the police department and is a member of Lake Zurich Citizens Corps among many other community affiliations. He is married and has two daughters, a son and two grand-children. 

"To me, it was a great experience," said Talley. "Of course, I wish I could have won, but I'm young and voters haven't seen the last of me."

Talley, 38,  has been a Lake Zurich resident for 12 years.  She is vice president of operations at New Age Transportation and treasurer of the Carolyn Gable Expect a Miracle Foundation in Lake Zurich. Talley is married with two young sons.

Tolomei could not be reached to comment.

A 24-year Lake Zurich resident, Tolomei ran as an independent party candidate.  He served as village trustee from 1995-1999, 1999- 2003 and 2003-2005 until he was appointed acting mayor of Lake Zurich. Tolomei was elected mayor in 2007 to serve out a two year term until 2009. He is a member of the Foglia YMCA board of directors and a member of the downtown revitalization committee. He is married to his wife Sharon.

Johnson, who ran unopposed for village clerk, received 1,572 votes.

"I want to thank the voters for coming out and taking the time out of their busy lives," said Johnson. "I look forward to serving two more years."

The three trustees and Johnson take their seats effective May 1.