River Forest voters have spoken and elected three newcomers — Kathleen “Katie” Brennan, Erika Bachner and Robert O’Connell — to the village board of trustees.
Brennan was the biggest winner of the night with 1,713 votes, a total of 29.47 percent of the vote. Bachner came in second with 1,548 votes for 26. 63 percent of the votes cast. O’Connell earned the third highest number of votes with 1,250 for 21.51 percent of the vote.
O’Connell beat out incumbent Michael Gibbs, who won 1,168 votes for 20.1 percent, while Gregg Kuenster came in a distant last earning 133 votes for 2.29 percent.
O’Connell, reached by phone, thanked the voters for their support, adding that he was “a little surprised by the result.”
“I look forward to working with the current board of trustees and (Board) President (Cathy) Adduci and getting some good things done in the next couple of years,” he said.
O’Connell said he felt he was well positioned for the seat on the board because of his position as chairman of the village’s Economic Development Commission.
“I thought it was a natural progression from that group,” he said.
Neither Bachner nor Brennan could be immediately reached for comment.
tim@oakpark.com
