Kankakee Times

On April 1 Manteno voters elected vocal anti-Gotion critic Annette LaMore to lead the Village of Manteno. 

LaMore's platform focused heavily on transparency and halting the controversial Gotion lithium-ion battery plant planned for the village, which has sparked public outcry over its potential environmental and national security risks. LaMore vowed to work closely with the community to ensure that Manteno’s future is shaped by the needs and desires of its residents. 

"I got my work cut out for me, I'm already seeing it," LaMore told the Kankakee Times.

LaMore has been a steady critic the lack of transparency surrounding the project, which is being supported by local officials. She believes the plant, linked to the Chinese Communist Party, poses health, environmental and national security risks to the community. 

"I just want to thank the voters for their support. There is hope for the future. We are going to work together with the community, and Manteno's got a lot coming. A lot of good things are coming to Manteno," LaMore said.

The Freedom Party’s campaign hinged on blocking the Gotion plant by electing three trustees who can prevent further support for the project, which she claims was pushed through without proper community input.

LaMore, who ran as part of the Freedom Party slate, credited her campaign's success to the overwhelming support from local residents who are eager for change. 

"Absolutely, we have the support of the people and they're hoping for change," she said. "One lady even posted on Facebook, she said, ’I woke this morning and there was a new smell outside and I didn't know what it was, but then I realized it was the smell of freedom.’ I had to laugh, but people feel unburdened. They're so happy that they've got us in charge instead of the Manteno Mafia.” 

The “Manteno Mafia” is the colloquial term for the current administration under Tim Nugent and his allies which signed off on the Gotion project. LaMore has voiced frustration with the current administration’s handling of the Gotion project, claiming that residents were kept in the dark about its foreign ties and potential hazards. 

Despite public opposition, the Manteno Planning Commission approved the zoning change in 2023, leading to a lawsuit from concerned citizens seeking to block the plant. LaMore has pledged to support anti-Gotion efforts if elected and criticized the slow pace of the legal challenge. She sees the election as a pivotal moment, noting her mayorship seek to halt the project and bring greater transparency to local governance. 

LaMore defeated challenger Joel L. Gesky, who was pro-Gotion, in the race for Manteno Village President. With all precincts reporting, LaMore secured 55.51% of the vote, totaling 1,536 votes, while Gesky garnered 44.49%, with 1,231 votes. 

The were 2,767 votes in the contest.

LaMore, the figurehead of the Freedom Party, was elected alongside slate members Peggy Vaughn who was the top vote-getter in the Trustee race and Kerri Rolniak who was elected as clerk. Rolniak narrowly defeated Stacy A. Malone in the race for Manteno Village Clerk. With all precincts reporting, Rolniak received 52.12% of the vote, totaling 1,427 votes, while Malone earned 47.88%, with 1,311 votes. The total voter turnout was 2,738. 

Other Freedom Party slate candidates Mike Barry and Paul Motel trail second place finisher C.J. Boudreaux by 29 and 28, respectively. 

Barry received 16.47% (1,287 votes) and Motel with 16.46% (1,286 votes). Boudreau earned 16.84% (1,316 votes), Annette M. Zimbelman secured 15.55% (1,215 votes) and Sherri S. Crawford garnered 15.28% (1,194 votes). The total number of votes cast for the Trustees’ race was 7,813. 

However, the election results are not yet official. 

"Our election has not been certified because it is so close for the last two trustees, the votes are so close, and there are still 299 ballots that were mailed out as absentee that have not come back yet," she said. "Dan Hendrickson, who's the county clerk, has informed me that he will not be counting those and releasing the information until possibly April 15th. But that could change the outcome of those last two trustee spots. I'm still gonna be the mayor. Carrie Roniak will still be the clerk. And Peggy Vaughn is a trustee because she had the most votes."

The tight race for the final trustee spots has LaMore hopeful but uncertain. 

"C.J. Boudreau from the Choice Party has 29 more votes than Mike Berry. And Mike Berry has one more vote than Paul Motel," LaMore said. "So that's really close. So we're hoping for a clean sweep, but we don't know if it'll happen. And if C.J. does make it, that's good, because he's a very nice young man. He's the youngest one that was running. I think he's about 25 or 26."

With the potential for a slim majority on the board, LaMore emphasized the importance of having three trustees who will vote to block further support for the Gotion plant. 

"I have to have three trustees who will vote to take away our vote for Gotion,” she said.

LaMore expressed optimism about working with some of the board members not aligned with the Freedom Party, including Boudreau. 

"C.J. Boudreau is an intelligent young man, he's a friend of my family's because his grandmother is one of my closest friends, so I've socialized with him and he and I talked before the election and we agreed that no matter who wins, we are going to work together for the betterment of our community,” she said. “So, I'm not disallowing the fact that C.J. could vote with us."

Looking ahead, LaMore is eager to begin her term but anticipates some waiting due to the ongoing certification process. 

"I think (swearing in) is going to be May the 5th," she said. "Nobody has announced it to me. But it's usually either the first meeting in May or if the election is certified, it can be held earlier in April. And it's obviously not going to in April because those ballots won't be counted in time."