Defeated Lockport High School candidate Mike Clausen promoted to Homer Township trustee
Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune
Tue, July 11, 2023 at 12:09 PM CDT·2 min read
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Defeated Lockport High School candidate Mike Clausen promoted to Homer Township trustee
Alexandra Kukulka/Chicago Tribune/TNS
Mike Clausen, who was appointed Homer Township collector just one week after losing a race for the Lockport Township High School District 205 Board, will now take a seat as a township trustee.
Clausen was sworn in as collector April 11, seven days after he lost his school board bid as part of the We the Parents Illinois slate, coming in sixth in an eight-person race for three seats. Township trustees appointed him to the board Tuesday to fill the vacancy of Matt Connelly, who resigned because he moved out of the township.
Township Supervisor Steve Balich said in April Clausen was appointed collector because of his commitment to the community and construction background. But Balich jokingly said Tuesday Clausen was ready to move up in the ranks.
“Mike’s done a great job as collector for, what, a whole two months?” Balich. “He’s excited to move up.”
Clausen said he will take some time to learn about the township’s goals and plans before determining what he’d like to see the board achieve during his tenure.
“It’s about serving your community and doing whatever needs to be done,” Clausen said.
Balich said Connelly was an excellent trustee who gave back to the community. Balich said Clausen’s construction background will benefit the board as it considers projects, such as a civic center.
“His knowledge will help us,” Balich said.
To fill Clausen’s vacancy as collector, the board appointed Mike Gondek, who said he has a web design and graphic arts background, and is a web designer for Chicago State University.
Gondek said he has been secretary of the Chicago State University Civil Service Employee Council for the past two years.
“The people on this board are exceptional people,” Gondek said.
Balich said the position of collector has an antiquated history. It was established as a position for someone to collect property taxes from residents, a role the county now handles.
Over time, the role has become a position that supports the board, Balich said. When Balich was a township trustee, he said the board considered removing the position of collector, but decided against it because it would require a referendum.
Balich said Gondek’s web design and computer skills will be a valuable resource. Gondek will also help and support the board with events and volunteer work, he said.
“I think they’ll both be a good addition to the board,” Balich said. “I want to make sure we have people who bring things to the table and both of those guys bring things to the table.”
