Machesney Park has new mayor, trustee and treasurer

Alderman Steve Johnson

By Bob Balgemann
REPORTER
Incumbent village officials who were opposed in the April 4 consolidated voting went 1-for-2 in their bids for re-election.
Mayor Jerry D. Bolin was defeated by challenger Steve Johnson, a sitting member of the village board, in his attempt to win a second four-year term. It was close, with Johnson receiving 1,263 votes, or 51.70 percent of those cast, compared with Bolin’s vote total of 1,180, or 48.30 percent.
“I am excited for this new chapter in my life,” Mayor-elect Johnson said. “I want to thank everyone who voted for me and my friends who supported me and helped with my campaign.”
He said he believed he won because “I went door-to-door, like I always do, passing out my fliers. No mail-ings or robo calls. The residents really seemed to like the personal touch from me or my supporters, who also helped canvas the village for me.”
One of Johnson’s first chores will be to recommend someone to fill out the remaining two years of his term as the District 2 village board member.
The terms of four incumbents expired this year and the only one with opposition to be retained was James Kidd in District 3. He withstood the challenge of Heather Kelley, president of the Harlem District 122 School Board, with 244 votes to her 193.
Incumbent Robbin Pilcher-Snodgrass wanted to retain her District 1 seat, but some of the signatures she obtained on nominating petitions were challenged by her opponent, newcomer Joseph “Joe” Seipts. An three-member electoral panel agreed with his points and she was removed from the April 4 ballot.
Seipts was
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