Glen Ellyn's Civic Betterment Committee (CBC) named eight candidates to its spring election slate after 551 residents voted at the group's Oct. 24 town meeting.
Four Village Board Trustee candidates and four Library Trustee candidates will now have their petitions circulated with CBC's help ahead of the April 2027 consolidated election, according to results posted on the CBC's website.
Village Trustee slate
Kelli Christiansen led all Village Trustee candidates with 332 votes. Bob Duncan finished second with 295, followed by DJ Simon with 291. Christy Truitt earned the fourth spot with 285 votes and will carry out a two-year term, according to the CBC results.
Bob Bessler (244 votes) and Steve Thompson (231 votes) were the runners-up.
Library Trustee slate
Emily Henkels topped the Library Trustee field with 375 votes. Laine Pehta received 359, Karen Shea earned 343 and Andrew Savikas rounded out the slate with 267 votes.
Shawn Ryan was the lone Library Trustee runner-up with 240 votes.
Savikas also appeared on the CBC's Library Trustee slate in 2024, when he carried out a two-year term.
How residents voted
The 551 total voters broke down across three methods: 280 cast ballots at the Saturday town meeting held at the Glen Ellyn Civic Center, 202 voted early and 69 used a drive-thru option. The CBC counts affidavits to track the number of voters.
Turnout was well below the 2024 CBC town meeting, which drew 1,447 affidavits, according to the committee's meeting minutes. That cycle included races for Village President and Village Clerk in addition to trustee seats.
What is the CBC?
The CBC describes itself as a nonpartisan, all-volunteer group that helps individuals run for the Village Board and Library Board. Its stated aim is to prevent big money and parties from influencing local elections by supporting candidates in low-cost campaigns. The group's motto, dating to its founding in 1931, is "neighbors nominating neighbors."
Under the CBC's bylaws, candidates who receive the most votes have their names placed on petitions that the committee circulates and files under Illinois law. The League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn co-hosted the town meeting event.
