Article about May 4th Council mtg, swearing in, new appts.

[fedupinwaukegan]

One of the comments after this article suggested Susie choose former Mayor Hyde.


Who will replace Sabonjian on Lake Co. board?
By Russell Lissau | Daily Herald Staff

Published: 5/5/2009 3:59 PM


Now that Bob Sabonjian officially is Waukegan's new mayor, the search is on for his replacement on the Lake County Board.

Sabonjian was sworn in as mayor Monday night, replacing Richard Hyde. Earlier in the day Sabonjian tendered his resignation from the county board, a panel on which he'd served since 1998.

During nearly all of that tenure Sabonjian had been a Democrat, but he left the party and became an independent late last year ahead of his eventually successful mayoral bid.

It now falls to county board Chairwoman Suzi Schmidt to find a successor who'll represent the county's 8th District, which covers much of the city.

Under state law, Schmidt must recommend a Democratic candidate to the county board because Sabonjian was a Democrat when he won re-election to the board in November.

The board has 60 days to seat a new member.

Schmidt already has spoken to several interested candidates. They include ***** ******, a former Waukegan aldermanic hopeful, and Bill Durkin, a Waukegan Park District board member who - like Sabonjian - is the son of a former mayor.

Schmidt, a Lake Villa Republican, also has spoken with Sabonjian about his possible successor.

Because the county board and mayor's office will work together on many issues, Schmidt wants the eventual appointee to have the new mayor's blessing.

"I certainly want to be able to appoint somebody he's going to be comfortable with," she said.

Sabonjian couldn't be reached for comment. However, in his resignation letter to Schmidt, Sabonjian addressed the issue.

"I trust in your wisdom and ability to move forward with the selection of a suitable replacement," he wrote. "I know this person will reflect and protect the interested of my district and the city of Waukegan as a whole and will continue my tradition of independent thought, fairness in action and desire for open government at all levels."

Schmidt also has formally alerted representatives from the Lake County Democratic and Republican parties of the vacancy, although it has been no secret.

She doesn't expect input from the GOP but already has heard from Democratic leaders.

Whoever is appointed will face an election in 2010 to keep the seat. Schmidt expects there to be opposition in the Democratic primary for the seat.

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