Candidates submit petitions for Forest Park village commissioner race

Six Forest Park hopefuls lined up bright and early at Village Hall Monday morning to submit paperwork for four seats up on the village council election April 7.

Incumbent Mark Hosty was first in line at 8 a.m. to hand his documents to Village Clerk Vanessa Moritz. Two other incumbents, Tom Mannix and Chris Harris submitted their signatures, statements of candidacy, and economic interest. Earlier this fall, Harris also collected signatures on a petition for mayor, but chose to run for commissioner.

Four commissioners will be elected based on total votes cast. One spot has no incumbent, as Commissioner Rory Hoskins is not seeking a third term. Three newcomers brought their documents to the service window — former Forest Park police officer Joseph Byrnes, Park District Recreation Supervisor Rachell Entler, and Wheaton Park District employee Daniel Novak.

The village will determine the ballot order by lottery at the end of the month.

Byrnes, 68, served as parks commissioner from 2001-2007, and was an interim Forest Park police chief in the late 1990s. Entler, 38, is the daughter of a retired Forest Park firefighter and is married to Park District of Forest Park Board President Eric Entler.

Novak, 37, grew up in Forest Park and works as a superintendent of special facilities for the Wheaton Park District. His family is also connected with the park district of Forest Park. His father, Dave Novak, served as park district director from 1983-2007. Dan Novak is parent of three Forest Park elementary students and served on the Garfield and Grant-White Parent Teacher Organizations. His wife, Samantha, works for Forest Park Elementary School District 91.

“The village of and community of Forest Park played a vital role in raising and molding me into the person I am today,” he said in a statement. Novak said he had a four-point action plan: Engage people, ensure satisfaction, seek improvement, and ensure financial sustainability.

The group of candidates at Village Hall was cordial and wished each other good luck.

Other candidates may still trickle in as a total of 11 candidates filed in 2011. The deadline for filing petitions is 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22, and Dec. 30 is the last day to file objections to nomination petitions with the Cook County Clerk’s office.

As of 11:30 a.m. Monday, no one had filed for the office of mayor. Incumbent Anthony T. Calderone has said he will run again.

Other races

Park District: Only one candidate had submitted paperwork to the Park District of Forest Park offices by 5 p.m. Dec. 15. Park Board President Eric Entler turned in his petitions, said Park Executive Director Larry Piekarz. 

District 91: No candidates for Forest Park Elementary District 91 school board had submitted petitions by the close of business day Dec. 15, according to the Cook County Clerk’s Office website.

This article was updated to correct that the village commissioner race ballot order will be determined by lottery, not by the first person to submit paperwork. Also, Dan Novak’s wife’s name is Samantha.