Candidates running on the Northbrook Caucus slate, including Village President Kathryn Ciesla, two incumbent trustees and a newcomer trustee candidate, all appear to have won their races in the April 1 election, according to unofficial election results from the Cook County Clerk’s office.
“I appreciate that voters have once again placed their trust in me, as well as our talented slate,” Ciesla said by email, on behalf of the entire slate. “I believe our win shows support for the direction we are heading in, and also a need for more engagement and dialogue.”
In unofficial results, Ciesla won re-election with 52.7% of the ballots, while challenger Josha Kaplan received 47.3%.
In the race for trustee, incumbent Northbrook trustees Joy Ebhomielen and Michelle Kohler and newcomer Matt Cassidy, all of the Northbrook Caucus, defeated challengers Laura Hochstein, Anthony Riccardi and Charles Zivin, according to unofficial results from the county.
Ebhomielen received 18.2% of the ballots in the unofficial count; Kohler, 18.7%, and Cassidy, 18.9%.
Hochstein got 15.4% of the votes; Riccardi, 13.9%, and Zivin, 14.8%, according to unofficial results from the county.
Derek Gau, a member of the Northbrook Caucus who ran unopposed, won his first term as village clerk with 6,229 votes.
“We definitely look to redouble our efforts to partner with the community and work on making Board updates more accessible as we move forward,” Ciesla said.
Ciesla said the key issues in the race were economic development, the village’s financial status, and the services the village provides.
“But going door to door reaffirmed for me that it’s not just about the issues — it’s about people wanting to be part of the conversation,” she said. “I heard a lot of thoughtful ideas and honest concerns, and those interactions reminded me that our best path forward comes from listening first and leading with that input in mind.”
Ciesla said the Northbrook Caucus candidates took the challengers seriously. “That’s part of respecting the democratic process,” she said.
“This was my fifth election, and my fourth contested election, so I stayed focused on the work we’ve done and the vision we have for Northbrook’s future,” Ciesla added.
Trustee Dan Pepoon, who was appointed to the board in January 2020 and reelected in 2021, chose not to seek reelection this year “because it takes a great deal of dedication and effort to properly represent the residents of Northbrook.”
“I’ve done so for over 15 years, serving several terms as a plan commissioner, then almost six years as a trustee,” Pepoon said. “I believe there are new voices that ought to be heard.”
Pepoon offered congratulations to all of the winning candidates.
“I wanted to step down prior to not giving this important position all that it deserves,” he said.
Ciesla said the biggest issues over the next four years in Northbrook are managing development in a way that reflects Northbrook’s values, maintaining infrastructure, and ensuring the village remains affordable for families, seniors and future generations.
“These issues matter because they affect daily life — how we move around town, the condition of our roads and public spaces, and whether people can continue to thrive here,” she said.