Annette Zimbelman was sworn in as a trustee.
Trustee Joel Gesky was nearly sworn at by a candidate, who might serve with him on the board.
Gesky also took a few more shots from another candidate, who might serve with him on the board.
The April 7 Manteno Village Board meeting – the first since the April 1 election – featured the usual yelling and controversy between the public and the board.
But there was a bonus twist, as there was also some angst between those on the board and those who will be on the board. It makes one wonder if future board meetings will continue to be so contentious.
And that doesn’t even include the Gotion issue, which has divided the community.
Outgoing Mayor Tim Nugent outlined a plan in which the new board could be sworn in as early as April 21, once Kankakee County officials ratify the vote totals.
So here is a look at the key players who are in, out, and in limbo, plus what the board makeup might be in the coming years.
Annette LaMore
LaMore, a former trustee, should be taking the mayor’s seat after her election win over Gesky.
She spoke during the public comment session on April 7 and praised the 2,900 residents who voted.
“I’m proud of the group that ran together [the anti-Gotion Manteno Freedom Party],” she said. “We ran a very clean campaign. Thank you, Manteno, for your support, and I cannot wait to be your mayor.”
Tim Nugent
Nugent served five terms before retiring. His fifth term was explosive with the Chinese-based Gotion battery plant coming in the area.
He has been the target of many insults from the public at meetings.
He said he is most proud of how much more attractive the town is under his two-decade watch.
“The best thing ever when you’re the mayor of a community is when somebody comes to town and is surprised at how nice it is, and they say had no idea that a small town of 9,000 people looked like this,” Nugent said. “When people are referring to Manteno as a Hallmark movie, I take great pride in that.
“It wasn’t like that in 2005. It was a great town, but it wasn’t the town it’s here now.”
He said he hopes the new board can continue that trend.
Joel Gesky
He unofficially lost the mayor’s race but keeps his job as trustee for two more years.
He said he plans on meeting with Mayor-elect LaMore to clear the air and to try to make sure board members are on the same page.
“This was a pretty contentious race for both parties,” Gesky said. “More so than any other race I have ever seen in the 20 years that I have been here.
“You know what? Shame on all of us. Right? We can’t have that. All of us have paid the price at one time or another for it.”
He said the board needs to move forward.
“We are a town that is divided,” Gesky said. “We need to put the past behind us. We need to find a way to work together or we’re not going to accomplish anything.”
Annette Zimbelman
Wendell Phillips resigned from the board for health reasons, according to Nugent, on April 2.
Zimbelman – a member of the Manteno Choice Party – was appointed to take his place by Nugent even though she finished fifth in the April 1 unofficial voting totals and out of the running.
That had opponents crying foul.
Trustee Paul Motel, whose seat on the board is in limbo, called it a “slap in the face to the voters of Manteno.”
“It’s a complete disregard and no respect for the election results of system whatsoever,” Motel scolded the board. “You guys can’t take an ‘L’. You guys are going down kicking and screaming like children.”
Resident George Reichardt added “It’s not good for the town.”
Zimbelman’s husband, Rob, gave her a ringing endorsement before quoting scripture.
“I refuse to rely on the recent far-fetched social media posts that characterize Annette as having low self esteem, no self-worth…’’ Rob said. “Annette’s heart is filled with love, pride, and passion. That same love, pride, and passion extends to our family, our schools, and our community.”
Annette thanked the board for the appointment and said, “We need to come together as a community and work together – that’s all I got.”
The board voted 4-0 for her appointment, with C.J. Boudreau abstaining.
“I think she is going to be a great trustee,” Boudreau said. “I abstained because I saw my vote as being biased. We ran together, so I didn’t want to have that stated.
“I also abstained because I was appointed nine months ago, and I don’t feel like I deserve to have a vote without being voted in by the people on this kind of thing.”
Mike Barry/Paul Motel/C.J. Boudreau
This trifecta of candidates are on pins and needles waiting for the absentee ballots to be counted and for the results to become official. Two will be happy. One will not.
As of April 1, Boudreau had 1,316 votes, Barry 1,287 and Motel 1,286, for the final two trustee spots.
Boudreau was appointed to the board in July and gave a rousing speech at the April 7 meeting.
“I am fairly confident but, guess what, no matter what happens, I’m going to accept the results as they are,” he said. “If this is it, it’s been an honor as an appointed trustee. And, if I have earned the next four years, I will be eternally grateful.”
Barry and Motel used a chunk of their public comment time to rip Gesky for what they deemed was a dirty campaign.
Barry said Gesky and the slate told lies and slandered his family and almost swore at him during his angry speech.
Barry also said Gesky’s slate called him a “scumbag,” and that Geske put his family “through hell and back.”
“It’s disgusting! It’s outrageous!” Barry said. “Everything that you’ve done, Joel, is a disgrace to everyone who did things the correct way.”
Motel, who once publicly begged for civility during the campaign, said that didn’t happen and had some pointed words toward Gesky.
“No one would refer to him as a gentleman – absolutely no one,” Motel said of Gesky. “Classy campaign. Classy. You smirk and roll your eyes, but it’s not funny to the residents. Classy campaign. There is nothing classy about you.”
Todd Crockett
Crockett is on the docket for two more years and, at the April 7 meeting, he took exception to public comments that the board is made up of “bobbleheads” who nod yes to everything.
He pointed to a vote shooting down an ordinance seeking a variance request for a property on North McGuire Drive.
“I saw us vote ‘yes,’ and I saw us vote ‘no,’’ he said. “I don’t think we’re a bunch of bobbleheads.”
Margaret “Peggy” Vaughn
Compared to some of the other candidates, Vaughn was relatively under the radar when it came to the controversy.
Unofficially, the 72-year-old retiree who ran with the Freedom Party will be on the board as a trustee for the next four years.
She is a 53-year resident of the village who owned two restaurants and has volunteered for several organizations, including the Manteno Legion Women’s Auxiliary and is the founder of the village’s Meals on Wheels.
Diane Dole, Timothy Boyce, Wendell Phillips
These three trustees will be off the board. Dole and Boyce did not run this year, and Phillips left the board on April 2 for health reasons.
Dole was appointed in 2005, elected in 2007, and has been a mainstay. She has been vigilant about public safety and has given several talks during meetings about how residents can stay safe.
Boyce was elected as a trustee in 2005 and has lived in the community since 2000. He also has spent many years involved in church activities, the Manteno Chamber of Commerce, and youth baseball and basketball. He was the chairman of the Public Works Committee.
Phillips was elected to the board in 2011 and served as the chairman of the General Government Committee. He is a native of Chicago, who moved to Manteno in 2002.