Two Hinsdale men who have experience as elected officials might run for village president next spring.
Former DuPage County Board member Greg Hart and Hinsdale Trustee Luke Stifflear told The Hinsdalean this week that they are contemplating a run.
“As you know from my time at the county board, I truly believe in public service,” Hart said. “I was mulling over this run for a time. I have been encouraged by friends and neighbors.”
While Hart said he has yet to make a final decision, he is leaning toward a run.
“I have a demonstrated record of success in public service and I think I would bring a fresh approach,” he said.
Hart has never served on the Hinsdale Village Board, as previous village presidents have, but he did spend 5 1/2 years on the DuPage County Board representing Hinsdale and 10 other communities. He was appointed in 2017 and then elected to a four-year term in 2018.
Hart and representatives of his would-be campaign commissioned a poll via text of about 300 Hinsdale residents that shows him in the lead whether he ran against current Village President Tom Cauley or Stifflear.
“I’m heartened by the results,” he said.
Stifflear, who was first elected as a trustee in 2015, said he has been asked by several residents and board members to run for president.
“While I have been on the board, it has made tremendous progress on infrastructure, historic preservation, commercial activity that has been beneficial to the village — such as the Land Rover and McLaren dealerships — along with superior service from our police and fire departments,” he wrote in an email. “Everyone I speak to is happy with the current ‘status of the village,’ and the best way to preserve this status is with experienced and consistent leadership.”
Stifflear served on the Hinsdale Plan Commission from 2010 to 2015 before becoming a trustee.
Cauley told The Hinsdalean earlier this month that he might seek an unprecedented fifth term as village president, depending on who else will appear on the ballot. He said he has talked to two individuals who might be interested in replacing him.
“If they decide to run, I probably won’t,” he said. “If one in particular decides he’s not going to run, I may.”
Candidates must file their petitions no later than Monday, Nov. 18, to be on the April 1 ballot.
