Golinski, Other 'Conservative' Candidates Elected to City Council

Yorkville’s City Council will resemble a game of musical chairs next month.

When the music stops, many familiar faces will be sitting in new seats, while others—including —will have to walk out the door (metaphorically speaking).

, voters elected Ward 2 Alderman mayor Tuesday, according to unofficial vote totals.

With similarly strong majorities, City Clerk was elected Ward 2 alderman, Administrative Hearing Officer was elected Ward 1 alderman, and Zoning Board of Appeals member was elected Ward 3 alderman. In Ward 4, 13-year incumbent was re-elected with 57 percent of the votes. (Please see the for comments from the aldermanic candidates.)

Current Ward 2 Alderman and Ward 3 Alderman lost their seats in Tuesday’s election. Current Ward 1 Alderman Wally Werderich did not seek re-election.

For Golinski, the votes amount to a mandate against “tax and spend” policies and bickering at City Council meetings.

“These aldermen want to be heard,” Golinski said. “I felt at times on this council that my opinion was not valued.”

Golinski said he plans to focus his energy toward uniting the community and reining in the city’s budgetary issues. He also wants to make Yorkville more business friendly (perhaps by eliminating the amusement tax).

For Burd, though, the election results contained a different message.

“You can’t raise taxes and get re-elected,” Burd said. “I think that’s been proven.”

She said she always tried to make decisions based on what she thought was best for the city and had no regrets about her four years as the city’s chief executive. But Burd said she hadn’t expected to be elected to a second term, largely because of the City Council’s decision to cover the sewer bond payments due in December.

Burd said she was proud of saving the county’s and creating the city’s Green Committee and Cultural Arts Commission. She also was pleased to see the development of the (plans for which began before she was mayor), pursuing the legal battle against the landfill proposal and clearing the city’s budget of bad debt.

When she called Golinski about 9 p.m. Tuesday to concede the election, Burd offered to meet and review any materials and practices she had as mayor that he would find helpful.

“I’m looking forward to a smooth transition,” Golinski said.

The newly elected officials will be sworn in at the May 10 City Council meeting.