Citizens For Accountable Leadership Sweep

The Citizens for Accountable Leadership will account for all three vacant spots on the Oak Park Village Board.

Incumbent Ray Johnson and newcomer Robert Tucker were swept to easy wins. Vote totals for Adam Salzman, another political newcomer, were close to independent candidate Lynn Kessen at the outset of the race, but Salzman pulled ahead as Tuesday night wore on. 

Independent candidate Lewis Carmichael was a distant fifth.

All three winners pledged to work with other taxing districts to find ways to share services and keep taxes low. They also pledged to be fiscally responsible stewards of resident's tax dollars.

In thanking supporters, Tucker, in a lighter vein, said he thought it was cool voting for himself this morning and an "honor to vote for Ray and Adam," but immediately took a more serious tone, noting that there's a lot of work to do in a number of different areas.

"I am committed to finding real savings for all Oak Parkers," he said. "I pledge to make village government open and transparent and as responsible as any (government) can be."

Kessen said she was not disappointed by her showing and will remain involved — she didn't rule out a run in 2013, either.  

"There's so much to do. I'm not going anywhere," she said.

The three top vote-getters were slated by the Village Manager Association, the village's top political organization.