Rochow withdraws from one race, but still in two others
A Vernon Hills resident who earned notoriety last month by entering races for seats on three separate government boards has dropped out of one contest.
Michael Rochow no longer is a candidate for the Cook Memorial Public Library board, library officials said Tuesday. He submitted his withdrawal in writing over the weekend.
Rochow remains in the chase for seats on the Vernon Hills village board and the Vernon Hills park district board.
Rochow could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
The 27-year-old mechanical engineer had said he initially signed up to run for three seats in the April 7 consolidated election to increase his chances of serving the public. He intended to serve on all three boards if elected.
Rochow's bid for three offices may have been precedent setting, Lake County election officials have said.
Other suburban candidates have successfully sought to simultaneously hold two elected posts. State Rep. Ed Sullivan Jr. of Mundelein also is Fremont Township's assessor, and state Sen. Michael Bond of Grayslake also is on the Woodland Elementary District 50 board.
Illinois law states people can hold multiple elected offices as long as the posts don't conflict.
Rochow's withdrawal leaves four candidates for three seats on the Cook Memorial panel. Three are incumbents: Aaron Lawlor of Vernon Hills, Mary Ann Phillips of Libertyville and Ann E. Oakley of Libertyville. The fourth, Nathan Johnson of Vernon Hills, is a political newcomer.
Lawlor, the board's president, said he didn't know why Rochow initially sought a seat on the board or why he withdrew.
Serving on three boards, Lawlor said, "definitely would make him a very busy public official."
Like Lawlor, Phillips said she's never met Rochow and didn't know his motivations.
"He's young, and it sounded like his heart was in the right place," she said.
Now the only non-incumbent in the race, Johnson said he expects the election will be challenging but noted "everybody was a new candidate at one point."
Oakley, who's also running for the Libertyville-Vernon Hills Area High School District 128 board, said she felt bad Rochow dropped out and wished him luck in the other races.
In the park district board race, Rochow is among three candidates seeking two seats. The others are incumbents Michael Meline and James E. Ballowe.
As for the village board, five candidates are in the race for four seats. They are Rochow, incumbents Thom Koch Jr., James E. Schultz and Barbara Williams and newcomer David M. Smith.