Local, Park Forest, Politics

Unofficially, It’s Vanderbilt for Mayor


Village Hall, Park Forest, New Years Eve
Village Hall after the New Years Eve 2018 rains fell. (Photo: Gary Kopycinski)

Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- Today was the day, and the polls are now closed. Unofficial results so far, with 12 of 12 Cook County precincts in and 3 of 3 Will County precincts in, it appears that Jonathan Vanderbilt has edged out Mae Brandon to become the next Mayor of Park Forest. With less than 1% difference between the two, Mr. Vanderbilt has 1153 votes to Mae Brandon’s 1132. JeRome Brown finished a distant third with 19.37% or 546 votes.

The numbers will change in the days ahead as provisional and absentee ballots are counted, and, indeed, the lead could flip-flop several times before the election is certified. As of late Tuesday night, Mr. Vanderbilt’s lead in Cook County was 83 votes, while Ms. Brandon’s lead in Will County by 56 votes. Mr. Vanderbilt leads by only 77 votes in Cook County as of 6:15 a.m. Wednesday.

The two leaders are currently separated by a mere 21 votes overall, a tally which may prove insurmountable for Ms. Brandon. Last night, however, Mr. Vanderbilt’s lead was 27 votes. So his lead was cut overnight.

As of 10:24 p.m., Mae Brandon has not conceded the election. “I know there are some mail-in ballots from Garden House. It’s too close.”

“I do not concede. We will wait for the final count and go from there,” Ms. Brandon said.

Mr. Vanderbilt could not be reached for comment.

This spreadsheet will auto-update as more precincts are updated in the days ahead.

This article will be updated as more votes are tallied.

Final certification of the election is expected in about two weeks from Cook and Will Counties respectively.


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