Politics & Government
Changes Coming in St. Charles Wards 1, 2
Unofficial tallies show two former aldermen defeating 1st and 2nd Ward Aldermen Jon Monken and Clifford Carrignan.
St. Charles’ aldermanic races came in with largely tight tallies, according to Tuesday night’s unofficial tallies that indicated voters had unseated incumbents in the city’s 1st and 2nd wards, while holding onto three incumbents in the rest.
Unofficial tallies showed 3rd Ward Alderman William Turned, 4th Ward Alderwoman Jo Krieger, who was unopposed, and 5th Ward Alderwoman Maureen Lewis retaining their seats, while two former aldermen unseated the incumbents in the 1st and 2nd Wards.
In the 1st Ward, Ron Silkaitis, who has represented that ward before, appeared to be the winner. Silkaitis garnered with 266 votes, while incumbent Alderman Jon E. Monken secured 231 votes.
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First-time candidate Justin Osbourne trailed with 193 votes.
“I give my congratulations to Mr. Silkaitis, and he has my full support as one of our First Ward aldermen,” Osborne wrote in an email late Tuesday. “I gave this campaign my best shot. It tried and tested me to the fullest, and I feel I've come out all the stronger, even in defeat. I wish Ron the best in his office, and I look forward to improving St. Charles under his leadership. Though I was a rival contender in this race, I hope he has heard my voice in this campaign season not as a political opponent but as a concerned resident who wants to see better for this city. Ron Silkaitis has my full endorsement.”
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The 2nd Ward race was very tight, with the night’s ending tallies showing challenger Arthur J. Lemke, another former St. Charles alderman, ahead of incumbent Alderman Clifford Carrignan 469-461.
Fourth Ward Alderman William J. Turner was re-elected with 384 votes to 309 secured by challenger Mario J. VanDerHeyden.
“I’m thankful to all the people of the 3rd Ward who recognized my value as their alderman,” Turner said late Tuesday. “I want to congratulate my fellow 3rd Ward Alderman Ray Rogina on his election as mayor.”
Turner added the city will need to find a new 3rd Ward alderman, since Rogina will be mayor.
It’s a position Turner’s challenger VanDerHeyden said he is interested in seeking.
Disappointed by his loss, VanDerHeyden said he met many 3rd Ward residents during the campaign. He also said he was a little befuddled to learn during Tuesday’s balloting that his wife had been given a code for a ballot outside Ward 3. She canceled her vote when she realized her husband’s name was not on the ballot, and was given a ballot with the correct code for the 3rd Ward.
He said he believes the mixup might be related to the city redrawing new ward boundaries last year, but he also wondered if his wife’s experienced had been shared with other voters who failed to recognize the error.
Also retaining her seat was 5th Ward Alderwoman Maureen Lewis, with 415 votes to the 395 collected by challenger Kimberly Malay.
Alderwoman Jo Krieger, who was uncontested in the 4th Ward race, garnered 700 votes.
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