Though Chicago's race for mayor is attracting quite a draw for a variety of reasons, including the presence of former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, the race this time around for mayor of Highland Park -- that tony suburb north of the city in Lake County -- will be of note too. Two current councilwomen are running for the office, Terri Olian and Nancy Rotering. More interest than usual is being targeted here; whoever wins will become the first woman mayor in the city's history.
Olian presents a plethora of experience, having been on the city's ruling body for over five years. She has over twenty years in municipal life there, including two terms on the local school board. Both candidates are long time residents, are lawyers, and have well-honed academic pedigrees. Rotering has been on the city council for only two years, though has experience serving the city in other roles previously. What may be beneath the radar, at least for the moment though still very much an important consideration, is that at the same time one of them wins the race, the city will have 3/7 of its Council as newcomers when the April 5, 2011 election concludes. Leadership and experience thus become critical for the city's next mayor, particularly given the perilous economic conditions hitting the state and all municipal governments within its boundaries. Concomitantly, Olian's term on the Council ends on April 5; Rotering remains, regardless of how she does in the race, since her term as a member of the council does not end until 2013.
Olian is known for her work with a number of community programs, notably, "Late Night Highland Park," one to keep venues within the city open for its young people to attend and participate. It has been hailed as a significant achievement. More of Olian's accomplishments and her views can be found here.
Again, despite interest in what is going on with Chicago's mayoral race, the battle between Olian and Rotering is equally of interest, certainly for those who will be voting for one or the other come next April.