Niles Park Board Gets Re-creation

The Niles Park District board will have a new look after this election. Incumbents Ray Czarnik, who earned 1,086 votes, and Elaine Heinen, who got 991 votes, defeated challenger Jeffrey Sok to win the two four-year seats that were available. 

However, appointed incumbent Joe Romano lost to Dennis O'Donovan, who also serves as a Niles Library Board trustee in a term that expires in 2013. O'Donovan got 799 votes to Romano's 755.

"I think people like the way the parks are run," said Czarnik about why he and Heinen got re-elected. "They're happy their taxes are low and we're building new facilities."

The district will renovate the Grennan Heights Park fieldhouse and put a multi-purpose facility on part of the Iceland ice rink grounds, he said. 

"There's a lot of cooperation between the village and the park district. It's run like a team effort."

Heinen theorized that O'Donovan's stance in favor of a skate park may have earned him some votes.

She saluted Romano's service on the board and said it "meant a lot" that he didn't win.

"Joe Romano is a very good family man. I have nothing against Dennis O'Donovan, he's a good family man too," she said. "However, Joe has worked really hard."

The park district has to meet the challenges of serving all its constituents, including different age groups and ethnic populations, she said.