A contested village board race and Dist. 39's referendum led to 45.7 percent voter turnout for Wilmette earlier this month, according to a statement from Cook County Clerk David Orr, who released the official final election results today. As in early voting, the village saw the highest number of ballots cast in all of suburban Cook County, where overall turnout was 17 percent. Early voter turnout in Wilmette was roughly 3.98 times greater in 2011 than in 2009's local elections, in which 339 ballots were cast. More than 2,100 candidates, 700 contests and 26 referenda appeared county wide on …

Kenilworth uncontested races results: Kenilworth Village Trustee 2 of 2 Precincts Reported Vote For 3 % Votes James A. Hughes (2011 Kenilworth Citizens Party) 32.68% 217 James R. McClamroch, Jr. (2011 Kenilworth Citizens Party) 33.13% 220 William E. Russell (2011 Kenilworth Citizens Party) 34.19% 227 Kenilworth Park District Commissioner - 6yr. 2 of 2 Precincts Reported Vote For 2 % Votes Carl ''Chip'' Anderson 51.24% 227 George T. Drake 48.76% 216 Kenilworth Library Dist Trustee - 4yr. 2 of 2 Precincts Reported Vote For 3 % Votes Anne H. Albrecht 32.52% 212 Janet T. Kibler 34.36% 224 …

Keith Dronen and Karen Donnan will retain their seats, while Alice Schaff will newly serve on District 39's school board.   SD Bd. Of Ed. Wilmette 39 - 4yr. 27 of 27 Precincts Reported Vote For 3 % Votes Karen A. Donnan 29.23% 5,185 Keith Dronen 26.94% 4,779 Alice D. Schaff 27.84% 4,939 Laurie Stogin 15.99% 2,837

Mike Basil, Bob Bielinski and Julie Wolf have been elected to serve four-year terms as trustees for Wilmette's Village Board. A total of six candidates were running for three slots, with the remaning contenders including Michael Bailey, Dan Kaplan and Doug Rathe. While Wolf and Bielinski are newcomers, this will be Basil's second term as trustee. "I feel good about the vote results, I feel like my hard work in the last four years has been validated," incumbent Mike Basil told Patch, "I’m looking forward to working with two new people to try and get the phenomenal, unrealized potential of …

Wilmette voters approved District 39's referendum Tuesday. After months of debate and presentations, the $6.375 million tax hike passed 5,632 'yes' votes to 3,293 'no' votes. "I am thrilled and amazed by the level of support our community has shown for our schools. I am proud to be part of a community that values education in a big way," Superintendent Ray Lechner told Patch. In a letter on District 39's site, Lechner also said that with, "the new voter-approved tax base, and the cuts we have already made, we are well positioned to manage our budgets for at least the next five years." Pro-…

Wilmette-Kenilworth Patch will be live-blogging the results of the proposed District 39 referendum, as well as the D39 School Board race and the village board race. Check the graphs below throughout the night for results. We'll also have interviews with some of the winners and losers. For New Trier School Board results check here. Updated as of 12:00 a.m. District 39 referendum passes Basil, Bielinski and Wolf elected to Wilmette Village Board Dronen, Donnan and Schaff elected to D39 School Board Updated as of 9:11 p.m. School District #39 - Increase Limiting Rate 26 of 27 Precincts Reported …

Election day kicked off this morning at 6 a.m., and the Wilmette-Kenilworth Patch was on the ground this afternoon talking with voters and election judges. Voters and election judges both noted an increase in turnout from the 2009 election because of many hot button issues, specifically contested election for village trustee, District 39 and the New Trier School Board positions and the proposed District 39 referendum tax hike $6.375 million. While no one particular group of voice was able to directly influence, Jackie Petrozzi’s vote she felt it was important to try and decide what’s best for…

Registered to vote? Check the list above on where to cast your ballot. Also check out the map to the right for exact locations.

It's here—Election Day is upon us. For those of you who didn’t get a chance to vote early, today is the final opportunity to fulfill your civic duty. Whether it’s your first election or your 50th, Wilmette-Kenilworth Patch will have everything you need to stay-up-to-date throughout the day and into the night. We’ll be around town to chat with residents, take exit polls, share election-day photo galleries and speak with candidates. Expect hourly return updates starting at 8 p.m. and stay tuned for interviews with winners. This year, Wilmette-Kenilworth has several contested races—District 39 …

Roughly 3,221 voters cast their ballots early in Wilmette, making it the busiest polling place in Suburban Cook County, according to Cook County Clerk David Orr. Early voter turnout in Wilmette was roughly 3.98 times greater in 2011 than in 2009's local elections, which was 339. "This is the first time Wilmette's led in early voting, and that is because of the contested races in that area," Cook County Clerk David Orr told Patch. Those contested races include District 39's proposed referendum, a six-candidate competition for village trustee, a four-candidate competition for D39's school board…

Julie Wolf is a 25-year Wilmette resident who is running for village trustee. Wolf holds an MCB from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management and a B.S. in Landscape Architecture from Iowa State University, and is a member of the Appearance Review and Lakefront Commissions. "I have taken a leadership role in finding innovative solutions and making key decisions, and I have a track record of really digging in and working hard to resolve issues," she told Patch. Board members serve four-year terms. Three seats are open this year, and six candidates are running—Wolf, Mike …

Doug Rathe has served on the Wilmette Library Board since 1999, and is its current vice president. Rathe, who holds a law degree from Loyola University, has previously served as an Illinois Assistant Attorney General and chief of the Environmental Crimes Bureau. Rathe told Patch that he would "work to have Wilmette become an environmental leader, by making eco-friendly purchases, including indoor and outdoor Village lighting and fuel efficient cars and trucks." Board members serve four-year terms. Three seats are open this year, and six candidates are running—Rathe, Mike Basil, Mike G. Bailey…

Dan Kaplan hopes that if successful in pursuing a position as a Wilmette's Board of Trustee, he can work closely to develop the Village's Master Plan. With three children attending New Trier High School, Kaplan told Patch he is deeply rooted in the community. "I have seen practices that work well in other communities and understand the operations of local government in a way that make me highly qualified to work with other board members in establishing priorities, initiating new policies and exercising effective fiscal oversight," he said. Board members serve four-year terms. Three seats are …

Bob Bielinski is a candidate for Wilmette's board of trustees who has more than 20 years of business experience. The Loyola Academy graduate also holds a degree in engineering from M.I.T. and an MBA from Northwestern University. "For all these reasons, 11 former and current Wilmette Village officials are supporting my candidacy for Village Trustee. In total, these leaders have served almost 150 years in Village government, and each of them agrees that I am one of the top choices in this election," Bielinski told Patch.  Board members serve four-year terms. Three seats are open this year, and …

Mike Basil has served as a Village Trustee since 2007, and chairs Wilmette's Judiciary Committee. Basil, who possesses an MBA from Loyola University, was a key proponent of the Master Plan. "I want to continue to advance the Master Plan process over the next four years and make Wilmette the most attractive opportunity for developers when the economy turns around," Basil said. Board members serve four-year terms. Three seats are open this year, and six candidates are running—Basil, Mike G. Bailey, Bob Bielinski, Dan Kaplan, Doug Rathe and Julie Wolf. Check out what Basil has to say about …

Mike G. Bailey is a Wilmette resident, father of two and has 30 years of experience in public finance. A University of Chicago Law School graduate, Bailey has pledged to be responsible, honest and open-minded to increase transparency in Wilmette's government. "I believe that a pledge of this nature is particularly important and necessary in a time of financial stress," Bailey said. Board members serve four-year terms. Three seats are open this year, and six candidates are running—Bailey, Mike Basil, Bob Bielinski, Dan Kaplan, Doug Rathe and Julie Wolf. Check out what Bailey had to say about …

Updated March 25 at 11:31 a.m. Wilmette's has seen the highest number of early voters in Cook County, according to Clerk David Orr. As of Friday morning, roughly 1,964 people have cast their ballots at Centennial Ice Rink out of 13,589 total voters. That figure is already roughly 5.8 times bigger than the 339 people who voted early in Wilmette's local elections in 2009, according to Courtney Greve, spokeswoman for Orr's office. Meanwhile, overall turnout county-wide is higher this year than two years ago, Orr told Patch. "There's no question in my mind that the trend indicates early voting …

Michael Levitan is a former Wilmette Park District commissioner, 1991 to 1995, who filed a write-in petition for a two-year term on the Library board in late February. Board members serve four-year terms. Four seats are open this year, and five candidates are running altogether—Levitan, as well as Kathleen M. O'Laughlin, Virginia T. George, Lisa Gaines McDonald and Jan Barshis. Levitan wants to improve input from residents and to seek ways to provide e-book downloads for patrons.  How would you assess the state of the library district’s budget? The budget is in good shape. The new board will …

Jan Barshis has a background as a community college reading specialist and is a lifelong educator. Barshis previously ran a large developmental education program at Harold Washington College in Chicago. Board members serve four-year terms. Four seats are open this year, and five candidates are running altogether—Barshis, as well as Kathleen M. O'Laughlin, Virginia T. George, Lisa Gaines McDonald and write-in candidate Michael Levitan. Barshis is especially interested in building on the library's green initiatives. "I will work to ensure that the library reduces its environmental footprint …

Lisa Gaines McDonald has served as an interim trustee for the past one-and-a-half years, and is looking to become a full-fledged boad member this election. Board members serve four-year terms. Four seats are open this year, and five candidates are running altogether—McDonald, as well as Kathleen M. O'Laughlin, Virginia T. George, Jan Barshis and write-in candidate Michael Levitan. McDonald prides herself on being a lifetime reader and a successful market research consultant who has "excellent problem solving skills." She has lived in Wilmette since 1992. How would you assess the state of the …