Turf Field Referendum Soundly Defeated At Polls

Western Springs voters Tuesday gave a resounding "no" to the Park District's referendum to issue $1 million in bonds to pay for the construction of a synthetic turf field in Spring Rock Park.

With all precincts reporting, the nays carried the day by a nearly 2-to-1 ratio, with 909 "no" votes to 487 in favor.

Green signs appeared around the Village on Tuesday, including outside many polling locations, urging residents to vote against the referendum, with the slogan "wrong place, wrong plan" and protesting against raised taxes and enviromental effect. No signs appeared in favor of the proposal.

The result means that the Village will lose a $500,000 grant from the Township of Lyons obtained to build the field. The field will not be built.

Outsider candidate Pars falls short

Village voters chose all three caucus candidates for the District 101 School Board over independent Eli Pars.

With all precincts reporting, Pars garnered 436 votes, 16.9 percent of all votes cast, an impressive showing for a non-caucus candidate but not enough to dethrone any of the three caucus candidates: Kathleen Wennerstrum (868 votes, 33.6 percent), Eleanor Wackerman (672 votes, 26.0 percent) and Todd McLawhorn (611 votes, 23.6 percent).

Tight LTHS race ousts Sprague Jr.

In a closely-contested race for the Lyons Township High School Board, John T. Polacek (4,350 votes, 23.0 percent) defeated Arthur W. Sprague, Jr. (3,677 votes, 19.5 percent).

Heather H. Alderman (5,421 votes, 28.7 percent) and Philip Palmer (5,459 votes, 28.9 percent) were safely elected.

Palmer, an non-incumbent, will replace four-term veteran Sprague Jr. on the Board. Alderman and Polacek are incumbents.

Uncontested races

Sheila R. Hansen, Edward Joseph Tymick and Patrick Thomas Word were elected as three new Village trustees in an uncontested race.

Brigette Denning and Gloria S. French were elected library trustees; they were also uncontested.

Dominic Arquilla, Jennifer Dunleavy and Michael E. Stibich were elected as four-year commissioners for the Park Board. Walter Knake was elected to a two-year terms. Again, there was no contest.

Finally, Reta Strecker, Any Jo Wittenberg and Robert Hiatt ran uncontested and won spots on the District 106 (southern Western Springs and La Grange Highlands) Board.

All totals are unofficial until certified by Cook County.