Vito sworn in as Wheeling Trustee months after election

Wheeling Village Trustee Joe Vito was sworn in to office Monday after a nearly four-month battle for a spot on the village board.

A Cook County circuit court decision last week put Vito in, and former Trustee Mary Papantos out, when the judge ruled 33 write-in ballots originally deemed invalid in the April 7 election should be counted. The ballots were enough to give Vito a late lead over Papantos.

"I always thought that I won the election, and I'm finally kind of vindicated in that position," Vito said. "It's a relieving feeling to go through litigation and finally get a result that you thought that you were entitled to."

Voters who cast the 33 ballots wrote Vito's name in but failed to connect the two ends of the arrow corresponding with his name.

This, Cook County Clerk David Orr's office determined, did not constitute a proper ballot.

Vito filed a lawsuit on April 30 to contest Orr's decision to not count the votes. Last week's ruling from Cook County Circuit Judge Alfred Paul set a new precedent in determining voter intent for write-in ballots.

Papantos attended Monday's meeting and says she is looking into an appeal but hasn't decided if she will file one.

She has until the end of August to file the appeal with the Illinois Appellate Court.

Trustees took turns congratulating Vito and thanking Papantos for her service.

"It was up to the courts, and they made their decision," Trustee David Vogel said. "Mary was knowledgeable and asked a lot of good questions, and I think Joe's going to bring the same thing to the table."

Vito's daughters Ellie and Julia, and wife, Jamie, joined as Judge James Paul Pieczonka swore in the new trustee.

Vito says economic development is a topic he wants to focus on.

"I think it's the key to basically lessening the burden on the tax payers and ensuring that we have the resources to do the things that we need to provide for the citizens," Vito said.