Five candidates have filed for the April 2 election, vying for three open seats on the Norridge Village Board.
The petition filing period for the election ended on Monday. Candidates Bill Larson, Donald Gelsomino, Jack Bielak, Joseph Rizzi and Constadinos Rapatas filed for the election in Norridge.
Several candidates said the village is headed in the right direction.
“I am confident that our president and trustees have always put the village of Norridge and residents first in their decision-making,” Larson said. “Sometimes tough decisions need to be made, and it’s important that decision will benefit the residents over the long term.”
Bielak said that “the village is headed in the right direction, but there is more and more pressure being put on municipalities because of the dire financial situation the state is in.”
Candidates noted that key issues the village is facing include new development and revenue.
“The village has to continue to stay on track with commercial,” Gelsomino said.
Larson made mention of the village’s ability to generate revenue as a challenge.
“Brick and mortar businesses are turning to the Internet, and it affects the sales tax revenue,” he said. “Escalating property taxes are always in the forefront with residents, especially here in Cook County.”
Bielak noted that he had served on the village’s park board for the past four years, “and in that time, I was chairman of the finance committee.”
“I have served on the zoning board for two years. I am currently a civil engineer for the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways, where I manage major capital projects. Through all of this work, I have gained knowledge of municipal practices and also how to manage major projects from their funding to their execution.”
Larson said he had 20 years of service on the Norridge Park District Board.
“I understand the commitment of serving our community,” he said. “I also have an extensive construction background that includes scheduling, organizing, budgets, and management.”
Gelsomino currently serves on the village board.
“If elected, I will continue to work on my three committee—insurance premiums, human resources, the building department,” he said.
The campaign manager for Rizzi and Rapatas could not be immediately reached for comment.