Oak Park election deadline extended

Yesterday was the deadline for Oak Park residents to file nomination papers for the upcoming Municipal Advisory Council election.The filing period, which opened July 17, had been extended to Aug. 16 because not all the incumbents decided to run.

Three seats on the council will be open in the November election. Bonnie Biddison and Jay Kapitz are seeking reelection, while Ron Stark has decided not to run.

Stark first served on the council in 1972. He has held a seat for the past 34 years.

"I got involved with the council because we had a voluntary homeowners organization that represented half the residents of Oak Park, but the county would not talk to us because we didn't represent every resident," Stark said. "The MAC now represents all of Oak Park and the county listens to us."

In addition to the council and the old Home Owners' Organization, Stark has also served with the Community Fund, the Park Advisory Board, Triunfo Sanitation Board, the School Finance Community and the Cub Scouts.

"You just have to look around Oak Park to see all that the MAC has accomplished," Stark said.

Stark, who will be 74 at the end of his term, wants to dedicate his new free hours to traveling and spending more time with his wife of 51 years.