Mount Prospect village board to remain one trustee short until after election

Mount Prospect Mayor Paul Hoefert will not appoint someone to fill the vacancy on the village board created by Trustee Augie Filippone’s resignation.

The village board will operate shorthanded until after the April 1 election.

Hoefert’s announcement comes in the wake of Filippone’s move to block anyone from filling the vacancy until May 5.

Filippone was not running to retain his seat in the upcoming election when he announced his resignation in the last week of February.

Village Clerk Karen Agoranos said he had to submit a notarized resignation in writing. He submitted the letter Thursday. It cited the statute giving him the authority to prevent the vacancy from being filled up to 60 days after the “officer authorized to fill the vacancy” receives it.

“The operative date should also shield any officer authorized to fill the vacancy from using the vacancy for any unethical purpose and/or electioneering,” he explained in the letter.

Hoefert, who has criticized Filippone during board meetings, said the resignation was done to promote Filippone’s spouse, Trisha Chokshi, who is running against Hoefert for mayor.

“Who resigns two months before the end of their term? It’s irresponsible,” Hoefert said. “We’re right up against the election. Why would I appoint someone to sit in that seat this close to the election?”

Filippone thanked Hoefert for respecting the election process and confirming he would not fill the seat this close to the election.

However, he added, “The mayor unfortunately has a habit of promoting unsubstantiated rumors and innuendo rather than discussing the facts and issues impacting all the residents of Mount Prospect.”

Chokshi said Hoefert’s argument doesn’t make logical sense.

“How exactly does a vacant board seat help my election?” she said. “The mayor can’t meet me in the arena with facts and new ideas to move Mount Prospect forward ... and has made this race negative and personal.”

Filippone didn’t cite a specific reason for his resignation, merely saying he was at a crossroads.

“I want nothing more but to dutifully finish out the remainder of my term. However, given my morals and ethics I can no longer continue serving with the board and management at this time,” he said in his resignation letter.