Illinois

Illinois Valley Voter Guide for April 2025 local election

Published

11 months ago

March 20, 2025

Illinois Valley Voter Guide for April 2025 local election

This spring, La Salle and Bureau county voters get to decide who will make the important decisions regarding their communities, schools, townships, fire departments, parks and libraries.

Early voting has started with voting to conclude on Election Day, April 1.

To vote in La Salle County

To vote by mail, go to lasallecountyil.gov/288/Vote-by-Mail where applications for vote-by-mail ballots can be found. The last day for the county clerk’s office to accept applications is Thursday, March 27.

Early voting has started at the La Salle County Clerk’s Office, 707 E. Etna Road in Ottawa.

Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday through Monday, March 31, and 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays, March 22 and 29.

To vote in Bureau County

To vote by mail, go to il-bureau.ballotrequest.net where applications for vote-by-mail ballots can be found. The last day for the county clerk’s office to accept applications is Thursday, March 27.

Early voting has started at the Bureau County Clerk and Recorder’s Office, 700 S. Main St. in Princeton.

Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday through Monday, March 31, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays, March 22 and 29.

Early voting is also available 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, through Friday, March 28, at the Princeton Moose Lodge, 1339 N. Euclid Ave., and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, through Friday, March 28, at Spring Valley City Hall, 215 N. Greenwood St.

Below are all competitive races in La Salle and Bureau counties with candidate questionnaires and coverage as available. This voter guide will be updated if additional candidates submit their questionnaires and more coverage completed.

MUNICIPALITIES

City of Earlville

Mayor

Mark S. Actis Jr. (incumbent)

Kathleen H. Wolfe

City of La Salle

Mayor

Jeff Grove (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire

Gary C. Hammers: Candidate questionnaire

Jamie Hicks: Candidate questionnaire

Tyler Thompson: Candidate questionnaire

Our coverage: “4 candidates share their views in La Salle mayoral forum”

Photos: Mayoral candidates speak at La Salle-Peru Township High School community forum

Alderperson, Ward 1

William T. Sexton

James “Diz” Demes: Candidate questionnaire

Alderperson, Ward 2

Tom Ptak (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire

Dawn Hicks: Candidate questionnaire

Alderperson, Ward 3

John “Doc” Lavieri (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire

Jessica Dergance

Nicole Girton: Candidate questionnaire

Danielle “Dani” Piland: Candidate questionnaire

Alderperson, Ward 4

Brianne Hicks: Candidate questionnaire

T. Boo Herndon (incumbent)

City of Mendota

Mayor

David W. Boelk (incumbent)

Shallen Gross: Candidate questionnaire

Alderperson, Ward 1

James Fitzpatrick (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire

Joel Perez: Candidate questionnaire

Alderperson, Ward 4

Vicki Johnson (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire

Matt Ramer

Our coverage: “Mendota headed in the right direction, candidates say”

Photos: Mendota candidate participate in forum

City of Peru

Mayor

Ken Kolowski (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire

Douglas P. Bernabei: Candidate questionnaire

Our coverage: “Ken Kolowski’s record versus Doug Bernabei’s voice for change heard at Peru mayoral forum”

Photos: “Photos: Mayoral candidates speak at Peru library forum”

City Clerk

James “Jamey” Mertel

Sherry Mayszak

Alderperson, Ward 2

Jason Edgcomb (incumbent): Candidate questionnaire

Tom Riordan: Candidate questionnaire

City of Princeton

City Council member, Vote for 2

Donald P. Saletzki

Michael McCall (incumbent)

Martin T. Makransky (incumbent)

City of Spring Valley

Mayor

Melanie Malooley Thompson (incumbent)

Debra L. Perino

Alderperson Ward 3

Jake Kelley

J.C. Heerdt

City of Streator

Council member, Vote for 2

Scott Scheuer

Daniel Danko

Christopher Thomas

Tanya Zehr Pearce

Justin Skinner

City of Wenona

Mayor

Mary Jane Bade (incumbent)

John Simmons

Alderperson, Vote for 3

Kym Healy (incumbent)

Randy Lohr

Brian Karczewski

Brock Flanigan

William Simmons (incumbent)

Matt Zulz (incumbent)

Village of Annawan

Mayor

Sarah Tenpenny

Tim Wise (incumbent)

Trustee, Vote for 3

Bogdan Taran

Kate Sturtewagen

Kimberly Goodley (incumbent)

Matthew Nordstrom

Village of Cedar Point

Commissioner, one unexpired two-year term

Kirsten Kasperski

Paul Williams

Village of DePue

Village President

Daniel J. Hoffert

Richard Hernandez

Clerk

Brooke Smith

Tiffany Torri

Hillary Grilc

Trustee, Vote for 3

Tanya Miscevic

William Laicoff

Raymond Scott Werkau

Lawrence Lamkin

Village of Grand Ridge

Trustee, Vote for 3

Anne M. Hinterlong (incumbent)

Steven M. Fulkerson

James D. Stricklin (incumbent)

Kimberly A. Olney (incumbent)

Village of Leland

Commissioner, Vote for 2

Miguel Ocon (incumbent)

Brian Niles

Ryan Finley

Matthew Clifford

Jennifer M. Williams is running unopposed for a two-year term.

Village of Mineral

Trustee, Vote for 3

Lindsay Eden

Anthony Solomon

Steve R. Jacobs

Jason Ruff

Raymond Calsyn Jr.

Village of Ransom

Village President

Dale K. Johnson

Paige Talty

Randy Stillwell

Stillwell, who died in December 2024, will still appear on the ballot.

Village of Rutland

Village President

Dan Krischel

Samantha Montgomery (Write-in candidate)

Trustee, Vote for 3

Tanner Haller

Al Stunkel

Cody Montgomery

Christina Jenkins

Sydni Tooley

Wendy Petrimoulx

Village of Sheffield

Village President

Sheila Yepsen

Karen Milby

Trustee, Vote for 3

Karen M. Taylor

Jonathan Gosch

Donald Jamison

Jamie Swearingen

John Patrick Barry

David L. DeVoss (incumbent)

Patricia Corwin (incumbent) is running unopposed for a two-year term.

Village of Tiskilwa

Clerk

Linda L. Kling (incumbent)

Minerva Andriotis

Village of Tonica

Village President

Eric Skinner

Arthur Foltynewicz

John Coons

Trustee, Vote for 3

Mark Zimmer

Thomas Goskusky

Raymond Martinez

William Tregoning

Village of Wyanet

Village President

James Blanford

Cordell Wedekind

TOWNSHIPS

Information regarding incumbents in some Bureau County township races was not immediately distinguishable. Updates will be made as information is gathered. Email newsroom@mywebtimes.com if you have information on any of these races.

Berlin Township

Clerk

Tricia Burden

Rachael Biagioni

Brookfield Township

Trustee, Vote for 4

Raymond C. Hladovcak (incumbent)

Joseph M. Ugolini (incumbent)

David Gage (incumbent)

Vernon L. Klaw

Monica Lynn Barry

Bruce Township

Clerk

Heather Patterson

Kathy J. Harris

Susan K. Yusko

Trustee, Vote for 4

Harold “Randy” Baumrucker (incumbent)

Joseph M. Harcharik

Sara McCurdy

Leah Washington

Steven Biroschik

Chad “Toad” Winterrowd (incumbent)

Anthony “AJ” Simmons

Eddy H. Hunter

Eden Township

Clerk

Janet Gould

Jackie Anderson

Highway Commissioner

Dawson Ploch

Mark D. Steele

John Goskusky

Trustee, Vote for 4

Richard Alleman (incumbent)

Shawn J. Micheli (incumbent)

Adam Anderson (incumbent)

Kurt Keutzer (incumbent)

Arthur Foltynewicz

Fall River Township

Trustee, Vote for 4

Cindy Eutis (incumbent)

Randy Hooper (incumbent)

Denise Imig (incumbent)

Al Kocher (incumbent)

Linda Gebhardt

Freedom Township

Highway Commissioner

James Stephen Glade

Travis M. O’Connell

Mike W. Woods (incumbent)

Gold Township

Highway Commissioner

Jay Blackert

Michael Fisher

Greenville Township

Highway Commissioner

Peter Johnson

Jeff Cady

Groveland Township

Highway Commissioner

Troy Petrimoulx

Michael Snyder (write-in)

Hall Township

Highway Commissioner

Dale Bernard

Monte Moreno

Indiantown Township

Highway Commissioner

Christopher Hicks

Cole Jilderda

La Moille Township

Highway Commissioner

Richard Gross (incumbent)

Joseph Fahs

Mendota Township

Highway Commissioner

Carlos S. Ambler (incumbent)

Marvin Fultz

Northville Township

Highway Commissioner

William Pfau

John L. Middleton (incumbent)

Ophir Township

Highway Commissioner

Ethan S. Sack

Jackson Prather

Daniel McConville

Ottawa Township

Highway Commissioner

Adam White

James Feely

Otter Creek Township

Supervisor

Lawrence Durdan

Raymond Boyles (incumbent)

Peru Township

Trustee, Vote for 4

Steven Weberski

Scott Wm. Miller

Robert P. Etzenbach

Thomas Stevenson

David P. Potthoff

Charles L. Trovero Sr.

Richland Township

Clerk

Karen Breckenridge (incumbent)

Kevin Gahan

Trustee, Vote for 4

Melvin R. Mertel

Karen S. Schmitt

Matt Vincent

Raymond J. Wolf (incumbent)

Kevin Knecht (incumbent)

Donald Miller (incumbent)

Dianne Cooper (incumbent)

Rutland Township

Trustee, Vote for 4

Timothy Caputo (incumbent)

Laurena Miller (incumbent)

Glen Nelson (incumbent)

Paul Kelley

Mark Boe (incumbent)

Selby Township

Highway Commissioner

George Glover

Michael J. Bastion

South Ottawa Township

Trustee, Vote for 4

Scott Munks (incumbent)

Matt Skelly (incumbent)

Nick Allegretti (incumbent)

Lori Bongartz

Jane Schomas

Vermillion Township

Highway Commissioner

Kevin Schiffbauer

Allen Leffleman (incumbent)

Wallace Township

Highway Commissioner

Nick Skromme

Erik Wheeler

Kevin Callahan (incumbent)

Trustee, Vote for 4

Marty Brown (incumbent)

Steve Pillion (incumbent)

Jason Corcoran (incumbent)

Michael Lyons (incumbent)

Ed W. Kahon

Waltham Township

Supervisor

Benjamin R. Hagenbuch

Johnathan Hagenbuch

Trustee, Vote for 4

Joshua Mammen

Benjamin Graham

Nicholas Barto

Katie Corcoran

Darrell Corcoran

LIBRARY DISTRICTS

Earlville Public Library

Trustee, Vote for 3

Deborah Larson

Kathleen Eager (incumbent)

Mary Bender (incumbent)

Stephanie Eller

La Moille-Clarion Public Library

Trustee, Vote for 4

William Schwabenland (incumbent)

Sarah Stuepfert (incumbent)

Jennifer Williams

Nataleigh Wamhoff

Regina McCoy

Jacob Bonnell

Leepertown Township Public Library

Trustee, Vote for 3

Sarah Siebert (incumbent)

Margaret A. Jaskowiak (incumbent)

Cyndi Sondgeroth (incumbent)

Karen Podobinski (incumbent)

No one filed for an unexpired two-year term.

Somonauk Public Library

Trustee, Vote for 4

Christopher J. Gresk (incumbent)

Marilyn Abbott (incumbent)

Thomas J. Harmon (incumbent)

James Beal

Kathleen Rhoden

Gina Skofich (incumbent)

Kinsay Smith

SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Seneca Grade School District 170

Board member, Vote for 4

Chad Humphreys

Andrew Applebee (incumbent)

Jeff Brockman

Dustin Geier

Nicholas B. Mancuso (incumbent)

Sandwich School District 430

Board member, Vote for 3

Erik D. Englehart (incumbent)

Candace Oropeza

John Morse (incumbent)

Traci Griffin-Lappe

Putnam County School District 535

Two-year term, Vote for 2

Douglas Smith

Mitch Wilson

Nathanael Bird (incumbent)

Michael Borri (incumbent)

Four-year term, Vote for 4

Matthew Holst (incumbent)

Thomas “Tom” Wiesbrock (incumbent)

Reed Wilson (incumbent)

Scott Zemanek

Amy Fay

Wethersfield School District 230

Board member, Vote for 4

Paula Jo Baker (incumbent)

Andrew Verstraete

Stephen P. Newman (incumbent)

Allyson H. Schiltz (incumbent)

Angela Ryan (incumbent)

Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico School District 3

Board member, Vote for 4

James Melton (incumbent)

Mallory DeMay

Whitney M. Mitchell-DeWitte (incumbent)

Tya M. Boucher (incumbent)

Katie Selburg

An unexpired two-year term is also up this election but no candidate has filed in the race.

Streator Township High School District 40

Board member, Vote for 3

Matthew J. Blakemore

Gary F. Wargo (incumbent)

Kimberly Ann Zavada

Richard M. Tutoky (incumbent)

Megan Black

COLLEGE DISTRICTS

Black Hawk College

Trustee, Vote for 2

Douglas L. Strand (incumbent)

Mark Carlson

Jon A. Looney

Dougal Nelson

Illinois Valley Community College

Six-year term, Vote for 2

William Hunt

Lynda Marlene Moshage

Todd Volker

Illinois Central College

Trustee, Vote for 2

Gale Thetford

Christine Bare-Kemper

Diane Unes Lamb

Kim Armstrong

Ron Budzinski is running unopposed for a two-year term.

Joliet Junior College

Six-year term, Vote for 3

Maureen Flanagan Broderick (incumbent)

Elaine Bottomley

Nancy Garcia (incumbent)

Timothy John Broderick

Robert Wunderlich

Timothy Bradley

Our coverage: “Joliet Junior College trustee candidates say programs need broader appeal for more students”

Sauk Valley Community College

Trustee, Vote for 2

David Edelbach

Tom Demmer (incumbent)

Danelle Burrs (incumbent)

Waubonsee Community College

Six-year term, Vote for 2

Daniel Jaquez

Greg Dobbins

Tina Medlin Willson

Richard “Rick” Guzman is running unopposed for a four-year term.

FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICTS

Sandwich Fire Protection District

Judd Weber

Justin Gifford

Bill Novicki

Jacob Johns

REFERENDUMS

City of Oglesby

Shall the city of Oglesby adopt the managerial form of municipal government?

Our coverage: “Yes, it’s binding: The Oglesby referendum isn’t advisory”

From the opinion page: “Vote yes for Oglesby city manager on April 1″

“Vote no for Oglesby city manager on April 1″

Waltham School District 185

Shall the Waltham School District 185 board issue $9.96 million in bonds to build and equip an addition to the Waltham School building?

Ohio High School District 505

Shall the Ohio High School District 505 school board be allowed to close Ohio High School and send students to Amboy School District 272 or Bureau Valley School District 340?

Our coverage: “Ohio residents ask about potential high school closure; question to be on April 1 ballot”

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Illinois

Wisconsin man, woman killed in head-on Wadsworth crash involving semi ID’d: officials

Published

5 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Wisconsin man, woman killed in head-on Wadsworth crash involving semi ID’d: officials

WADSWORTH, Ill. (WLS) — Two people who were killed in a head-on crash involving a semi in the north suburbs on Thursday morning have been identified, officials said on Friday.

The Lake County sheriff’s deputies and the Newport Township Fire Protection District responded to the Route 173 crash, which happened west of North Kilbourne Road in Wadsworth, around 7:50 a.m.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Witnesses told investigators that the driver of a 2009 Acura sedan, which was traveling eastbound, appeared to be having difficulty staying in his lane and drifted into the path of a Freightliner semi-truck, which was heading westbound.

The two vehicles then collided head-on, officials said. A third vehicle was also hit.

Chopper 7 was over the scene at 9 a.m., capturing the damage.

The sedan’s driver, a man, and a passenger, a woman, were pronounced dead on the scene.

The Lake County Coroner’s Office identified them as 51-year-old Kelly Wooten and 45-year-old Jacklyn Bradley of Stoughton, Wisconsin. Preliminary autopsy results indicate that both Wooten and Bradley died from blunt-force injuries.

The driver of the third vehicle, a 54-year-old Salem, Wisconsin woman, suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The crash shut down Route 173 between Kilbourne Road and U.S. 41 in both directions.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Technical Crash Investigations Team is investigating.

The video in the player above is from a previous report.

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Illinois

AIPAC faces test of its power in Illinois primary as Democrats debate future of Israel relationship

Published

18 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

AIPAC faces test of its power in Illinois primary as Democrats debate future of Israel relationship

WASHINGTON — A crowded primary season in Illinois is shaping up as the next test for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a powerful advocacy organization that’s generating fresh turmoil over the Democratic Party’s relationship to Israel and the role of undisclosed campaign cash in this year’s midterm elections.

AIPAC, which was founded decades ago to lobby for U.S. support for Israel, has reserved at least $1.9 million in advertisements through its super PAC in the race to replace Rep. Danny Davis, a veteran politician who is retiring. The organization hopes to boost Melissa Conyears-Ervin, the city treasurer in Chicago, to victory over a dozen other candidates in the March 17 primary.

Other organizations that critics believe are tied to AIPAC are also spending heavily in Illinois, a source of bitterness and recriminations in a state already known for its bare knuckled brand of politics.

The aggressive spending comes after AIPAC put almost $2 million into a recent Democratic primary for a special election in New Jersey, an effort that’s widely considered to have backfired. AIPAC targeted Tom Malinowski, a former congressman who narrowly lost to progressive candidate Analilia Mejia — who has been outspoken in criticism of Israel.

But AIPAC appears undaunted by the experience, despite an outpouring of criticism from across the political spectrum.

“We expect to be involved in dozens of races both in primaries and general elections this cycle,” said Patrick Dorton, a spokesman for AIPAC’s affiliated super PAC, the United Democracy Project, or UDP.

AIPAC has more urgently pursued its mission as Democratic skepticism and even hostility toward the U.S.-Israel relationship increases because of the war in Gaza, jeopardizing traditional bipartisan support for military assistance to a historic ally. But the group’s assertive interventions in this year’s primaries, which are expected to expand in the months to come, also risk further fracturing the party and eroding any remaining goodwill.

AIPAC has been dividing line in Illinois primary

Campaign finance laws involving super PACs make it nearly impossible to ascertain who is behind much of the money being spent in Illinois. Although UDP is open about its affiliation, recently created groups like Elect Chicago Women and Affordable Chicago Now haven’t yet been required to disclose the sources of their money.

Neither group is obligated to disclose its funding until after the Illinois’ primary. Critics suspect they’re conduits for AIPAC money, and AIPAC has declined to say whether there’s any connection.

UDP, Elect Chicago Women and Affordable Chicago Now are three of the top four spenders on advertisements in House races so far, with almost $11 million total, and the majority going to Illinois. Financial numbers are drawn from AdImpact, a nonpartisan ad-tracking service.

None of the organizations mention Israel in their campaign messaging, a strategy that AIPAC-affiliated groups have used in the past as well.

For example, the United Democracy Project assailed Malinowski in New Jersey as sympathetic to President Donald Trump’s deportation efforts, undermining him with liberal voters. In Illinois, it is promoting Conyears-Ervin to replace Davis in the 7th congressional district by saying she will fight to lower costs and protect healthcare.

The strategy has contributed to speculation and angst about AIPAC’s influence in politics. Supporters of Israel accuse critics of using antisemitic tropes about dual loyalty, and others say the focus on AIPAC is misplaced.

“I think the folks who are talking the most about AIPAC are seeking to demonize Israel and create a break in the U.S.-Israel relationship,” said Rep. Brad Schneider, a Democrat who represents Illinois’ 10th district.

“The problem is Citizens United and the decision to allow dark money,” said Schneider, the co-chair of the Congressional Jewish Caucus. “The problem is the rules. Let’s fix the rules.”

Candidates have been criticizing each other for their perceived willingness to accept help from AIPAC. Four progressive candidates vying for different Illinois congressional seats jointly condemned the organization’s role in the state’s primaries during a press conference in February. Another candidate is selling shirts on her website with anti-AIPAC messaging.

AIPAC has increased its campaign spending in recent years

Malinowski is still raw over his experience as AIPAC’s target in New Jersey, and he said that he won’t support any candidates backed by the organization this year. He described himself as pro-Israel even though he opposed unconditional assistance for the country, a stance that drew AIPAC’s ire.

“Obviously, we were going to talk about Israel and Gaza in the campaign because many voters would be asking questions about it,” Malinowski said. “But I wanted those discussions to be about the substance, not colored by baggage of endorsements from groups that are controversial now.”

AIPAC said in a statement that Mejia’s success in the primary was “an anticipated possibility,” suggesting they had no regrets that their role could have helped pave the way for a candidate who has described Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide.

Although AIPAC has always been politically active, it began spending directly on campaigns during the 2022 midterms.

Since then, it has spent more than $221 million through its traditional PAC and its super PAC, according to Federal Election Commission filings between December 2021 and January 2026.

The super PAC has mostly focused on Democratic primaries. In the 2022 and 2024 cycles, UDP spent at least $1 million supporting or opposing 18 candidates, 16 of whom were Democrats. Many of those candidates were running in open races.

Traditional PACs are allowed to raise and donate up to $5,000 per candidate per election, and may coordinate directly with campaigns. Super PACs don’t have fundraising or spending limits but are not allowed to make direct or in-kind contributions to candidates nor coordinate communications.

In 2024, UDP’s biggest investments were made in support of centrist challengers to progressive incumbents. It spent more than $13 million in the 2024 Democratic primary in New York’s 16th District, in which current Rep. George Latimer defeated former Rep. Jamaal Bowman. It also spent $8.5 million opposing former Rep. Cori Bush, who lost her primary to Rep. Wesley Bell.

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Illinois

Chicago Bears property tax incentives advance in Illinois House over city opposition

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Chicago Bears property tax incentives advance in Illinois House over city opposition

A tax incentive plan aimed at keeping the Bears in Illinois advanced in the state House Thursday amid opposition from City Hall and questions about whether Democrats can whip up enough votes to pass it.

The legislation, introduced by state Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago), would allow the NFL team to negotiate a freeze on property tax assessments with local taxing districts — in this case, Arlington Heights, Cook County and local school districts.

This marks the latest development in the high-stakes bidding war between Illinois and Indiana over which state can lay claim to one of the NFL’s most storied franchises as the team looks for the exits from its long-time lease at Soldier Field.

On a roll call opposed by Republicans, the Democratic-led House Revenue & Finance Committee voted 13-7 to back Buckner’s legislation and position it for a vote by the full House. But that didn’t happen after the committee vote because the House adjourned for the week without taking action on the measure.

Following the committee’s action, Buckner said it’s time to start putting a legislative plan into motion, and the property tax concessions are essential for anything going forward.

“I don’t feel pressured by the Bears,” Buckner said. “What is important to me, though, is that we are able to put these tools in play. I do want the team to stay in Illinois. That’s very important to me.”

The bill that advanced Thursday deals only with the issue of property tax certainty and saving the Bears hundreds of millions of dollars by freezing property taxes on the Arlington International Racecourse site, and allowing the team to negotiate reduced “payments in lieu of property taxes with suburban school districts.”

Still to be determined is the massive infusion of infrastructure funding required to bankroll the road, sewer and utility work needed to ready the site for development.

Ahead of the vote, Buckner appeared on “The Fran Spielman Show” podcast and said the infrastructure wish list that started at $855 million has been whittled down to $734 million and said, “We’re still talking through it.”

But Buckner told the Chicago Sun-Times that whatever the final number turns out to be, the Chicago legislative delegation will demand similar help to renovate and refresh Soldier Field and ease the transportation bottleneck that makes it difficult to get in and out of the Museum Campus.

“We’ve still got some things to work on, including Chicago and what happens with Chicago and a Chicago package,” he said.

Buckner, whose district includes Soldier Field, has long spoken out against the state cutting a blank check to finance a new Bears’ stadium, particularly given that roughly half a billion dollars in debt remains from the 2003 renovation of Soldier Field. Buckner said the Bears should pick up that tab.

The Chicago Park District has made an ask for $630 million for infrastructure and renovation of the Soldier Field — an appeal that a representative of the mayor’s office renewed today despite formally registering as an opponent to Buckner’s legislation.

Steven Mahr, Chicago’s acting chief financial officer, told the House panel the relocation of the Bears would have “devastating consequences on the city,” and he re-upped the city’s previous $630 million infrastructure request.

“Some of those consequences are unknowable,” Mahr said. “It is clear that Chicago is the economic engine of the state of Illinois. Engines require fuel to run, otherwise engines stall and grind to a halt. The city is requesting a fair and equitable opportunity and a level playing field.”

Labor unions, business groups and several northwest suburbs, including Arlington Heights, voiced support for the legislation.

This is a developing story.

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