Elmhurst voters will decide four contested local and county races today, alongside a slate of statewide contests.
One race puts two sitting Elmhurst Park District board members against each other for a seat on the DuPage County Forest Preserve Board. Democrat Susan Smentek and Republican Carolyn Ubriaco landed on opposite sides of the dispute over where to place a bandshell at Wilder Park, according to Patch.
The park district's own survey found residents overwhelmingly opposed building the bandshell near the Wilder Mansion, Patch reported. Smentek supported that location as part of the board majority. Ubriaco sided with the minority.
Smentek's candidate questionnaire describes her current roles as co-chair of the Elmhurst Park District's Finance Committee and the board's legislative liaison. She also holds a Distinguished Board Member designation from the Illinois Association of Park Districts.
State House and Senate
The 45th District House and 23rd District Senate seats covering Elmhurst are both on the ballot. Democratic Rep. Marti Deuter, a former Elmhurst alderman elected two years ago, faces Republican Gina Parrilli for the House seat. Democratic Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton, who has held the Senate seat since 2019, faces Republican Linda Polacek.
Patch reported that Republican financial support for candidates in both districts has dried up, part of a broader suburban shift toward Democrats.
DuPage County sheriff
The open sheriff's race features Democrat Peter Coolidge against Republican Sean Noonan. Republican Sheriff James Mendrick did not seek a third term, instead running unsuccessfully for the GOP gubernatorial nomination.
Noonan, a lifelong DuPage County resident according to his campaign website, won the Republican primary over undersheriff Eddie Moore. Moore had faced scrutiny over his handling of a car crash and a bar incident from prior years. A Coolidge victory would make him the first Democrat to hold the office since 1839, according to the DuPage Policy Journal.
Statewide races and voting
Elmhurst ballots also include statewide contests, headlined by Democrat Juliana Stratton against Republican Don Tracy for U.S. Senate and Gov. JB Pritzker seeking another term against Republican Darren Bailey.
Voters who are not yet registered can sign up at their polling place on Election Day. Two forms of identification are required, with at least one showing a current address. Residents can find their polling location and view a sample ballot through the DuPage County Election Commission website.
