At a press conference earlier today, supporters of Citizens United for Glenview said lawmakers in Springfield and Washington, D.C. could learn a thing or two from the local grassroots political party. 

Versions of the group have been re-forming every two years since the 1960s to avoid costly primary elections. In anticipation of the 2011 local election, the group has re-organized again and is submitting petitions Dec. 13 to put three trustee candidates on the ballot, said party chairman Jim Patterson, who is also a current village trustee.

The candidates for the three seats are incumbents Philip White and Scott Britton and newcomer Mike Jenny. Patterson will not be running for re-election.

A complete list of candidates will be available after the Dec. 20 filing deadline.

Mike Downing, a community activist, said the group has been a stalwart organization in the village for many years.

"It offers terrific leadership," Downing said. "It offers community-wide representation."

Candidate Britton said the group is nearly non-partisan.

"We could show the folks in Springfield and Washington how we get things done," he said.

The Candidates

Philip White

White was appointed to serve out the remainder of Village President Kerry Cummings' term when she was elected to the post in 2005. He was elected to his current four-year term in 2007.

A longtime businessman, White said his experience helps him navigate through the village's fiscal woes. He spent 37  years in business and retired in 1994. Since retirement, he has been involved in various charitable organizations.

"I'd like to continue to serve the village in the next critical four years as we emerge from this Great Recession," White said.

White and his wife, Rosemary, have lived in Glenview since 2003. They have four adult children and five grandchildren.

Scott Britton

Britton is a senior partner at Brenner, Ford, Monroe and Scott, Ltd. He is seeking re-election after serving his first four-year term. In 2002, he was appointed to Glenview District 34 School Board and then elected to a full term in 2003.

"I love serving the village," he said, adding that he's also looking forward to welcoming Mike Jenny to the board. During his tenure, the board has not only been wrestling with budget issues but problems with drainage  within the village as well.

The trustees and his family have lived in Glenview since 1999. He has two children: Ellie, an eighth grader at Attea Middle School and Jake, a second grader at Westbrook Elementary School.

Mike Jenny

If elected, Jenny would be a new face to the board. He has spent his career in investment banking and is currently with the Houlihan Lokey Chicago office.

Jenny and his wife have lived in Glenview since 2004. They have one daughter, a first grader at Henking Elementary School and a baby on the way. The family is involved in various community service throughout the village and see an election to board as an extension of service.

"This opportunity to serve on the board of trustees is really opportunity to jump in and get involved," Jenny said. 

Opposition

Other candidates have until Dec. 20 to file their petitions to run for trustee, Patterson said.

"We don't know yet what opposition we have," he added.

Campaign manager Matt Whipple said the campaigns can't "fully take shape" until the party knows who the opposition is but "I don't anticipate we'll change our approach that much.

"We intend to campaign, we intend to be out in the community," he said.