First primary challenge since 1998 for Lake County Board’s Calabresa

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Updated: February 27, 2012 8:17AM

Long-time Lake County Board member Carol Calabresa is facing her first primary challenge in 14 years in the March 20 Republican primary election.

Republican Dan Donahue of Libertyville is vying for Calabresa’s seat in County Board District 15, saying it’s time for a change. The board district includes Libertyville and part of Mundelein.

Donahue, who has the support of several prominent Libertyville officials including Mayor Terry Weppler, said he decided to run for the County Board because he felt many county officials -- including Calabresa -- were not responsive to the concerns of neighbors and residents relative to the county’s master planning efforts for the County Farm property in Libertyville.

“Quite a few of the neighbors were disappointed with the way she handled it and, quite frankly, so were some of the village officials,” he said. “The people I talked to were not happy with the result or the way it was handled.”

Donahue said many residents feel that Calabresa, who has served on the County Board for 25 years, is no longer the best person to represent their interests.

“The people I’ve talked to think she’s a nice lady but that she’s stayed too long,” he said. “They don’t think she has the energy or interest to do it anymore. It’s time for someone with new ideas, a new approach and new energy.”

‘Political nature’

Calabresa said the challenge by Donahue is the first primary challenge she has had since 1998.

“I’m surprised at the very political nature of this challenge,” she said. “This is a person who has only been in Libertyville for a few years.”

Calabresa said Donahue spent many years working on political campaigns in Cook County for then State Sen. President James “Pate” Philip and has little experience with Lake County government issues.

Regarding the County Farm issue, Calabresa said she and other county officials did listen to the concerns of neighbors and the county did make several concessions to the plan, which was approved by the Libertyville Village Board. “I don’t think it’s a fair criticism,” she said.

Donahue has lived in Libertyville for about six years and has been a member of the Libertyville Plan Commission for the past year. He acknowledged that he previously worked on several campaigns to elect Republicans to the state senate between 1988 and 2002. “I’m quite proud of all the work I did to elect Republicans all across the state during that time,” he said.

“She’s been involved in politics for 25 years in elected office,” he added.

Calabresa said she’s proud of her 25 years of service to the county and her constituents. As a member of the County Board, Calabresa also serves on the Lake County Forest Preserve District Board and was president of the forest preserve board from 1998-2000, when the Independence Grove Forest Preserve was being developed in Libertyville. More recently, as a member of the County Board, Calabresa said she worked to gain support for a state-county road project to widen Milwaukee Avenue to four lanes from south of Route 137 to near Route 120, which is expected to get underway in the spring.

‘Fiscal
conservative’

Donahue calls himself “a fiscal conservative” who is concerned about some of the county’s spending practices. He believes the county has mishandled the financial situation at Winchester House nursing home in Libertyville and the proposed Fort Sheridan golf course, among other issues.

Donahue said he has the support of many prominent Libertyville residents including Weppler and former Mayor Duane Laska, village trustees Rich Moras and Todd Gaines, among others. He said his campaign also got the recent endorsement of the Libertyville Township Republican Organization, which represents Republican committeemen in Libertyville Township, by a wide margin over Calabresa.

Calabresa said she’s not surprised that many of the officials Donahue was referring to endorsed his candidacy. She said Donahue and his wife, Antonietta Simonian, former executive director of the Lake County Republican Federation, helped with many of their campaigns.

“It’s a huge collection of political IOUs,” Calabresa said.

Weppler said he is supporting Donahue because he thinks he’s the best candidate for the job and not because of any political considerations.

“I think he brings some new ideas and fresh approaches to the County Board and I think he’s qualified for the position,” Weppler said. “I think Carol has done a good job but I think it’s time for someone new in that position. I would not be supporting him if I did not think he was very capable of doing the job.”