Michelle Parker, David Jakubiak, Natalie DeJonghe and Phil Weglarz were elected Tuesday night to the Linda Sokol Francis Board of Trustees.
According to unofficial results from the Cook County Clerk’s Office Tuesday night, incumbent Parker, who was appointed to the board last March, received 1,003 votes, DeJonghe received 797 votes and Jakubiak received 617 votes.
They were among seven candidates running for three four-year terms. A total of 1,693 voters cast ballots in Brookfield, each of whom could vote for up to three library board candidates for a four-year term.
Weglarz ran uncontested for a two-year term and won 1,418 votes.
Candidates Priscilla Grote, Alan Miller, Karl Olson and Tristan Gunn did not win enough votes to be elected, though results will not be final until the Cook County Clerk’s Office certifies them.
The three new trustees will replace President Adam Burghgraef, Secretary Carol Vaughan Kissane and Trustee Jennifer Perry. While this is Parker’s first time being elected to the board, she will retain her seat.
Jakubiak said he spent time at the Brookfield train station early in the morning during his campaign to speak directly with residents heading into work to learn about the issues concerning them.
“I just wanted to hear where people are at. You look at the results from Brookfield, and you know it’s a pretty progressive community, right? But people are really concerned about issues [like] access to the library,” he said Tuesday night. “You [this newspaper] hit the nail on the head with your questionnaire when you asked about the library as a third space. … People are looking for connection and community, and the library is one place that can provide that.”
While the Landmark caught Jakubiak at an election night event at Irish Times before the unofficial results were announced, he said he’s ready to dive into the library’s business.
“If I win, I’m going to be a busy, busy bee. I have to talk to [Executive Director] Kim [Coughran] to find out what’s really been happening, what are the needs,” he said. “I’ll be drinking a lot of coffee. I’ll be doing a lot of catch up, and I’m really excited about that opportunity.”
Parker said her first experience campaigning for public office was full of unexpected lessons.
“A lot of this was learning as I went, from, ‘Do I want to get printed materials? What goes into that? How do I do it?’” she said. “I decided to do door hangers, and it turns out door hangers blow right off doors, so then it became, ‘I’m not going to go out on windy days. How’s the weather today?’”
Another surprise, she said, was the caliber of the candidates she was up against.
“Something I did not expect was this new group of friends that I made. The eight of us are this [group of] committed, smart, fun community members, and it’s been so energizing and nourishing to know that all these people live within Brookfield,” she said. “I’ve already so loved and appreciated Brookfield, period, and this process has continued that. It’s been really great.”
Parker was mid-interview with the Landmark when the unofficial results were announced to the group at Irish Times.
“I’m processing the idea that 900 plus Brookfield residents, my neighbors, voted for me, and tomorrow, I’m still going to be processing it. I mean, what an — ‘honor’ feels too cheesy,” she said just a moment after learning she was elected. “I feel the trust there. I mean, I think the library is our greatest asset, and it was one thing to be appointed, which was incredible, that the board asked me to come on. It’s another thing to have residents be like, ‘Alright.’”
DeJonghe, who is the manager of adult services for the Westmont Public Library, was not available for comment Tuesday night.
