Will Mayor Van Dusen Run Again in 2013?

As the calendar has now turned to 2012, Skokie officials are working on a variety of issues for this year, but that does not mean people cannot start thinking about the 2013 municipal elections.

It appears Mayor George Van Dusen has begun to do so as he is strongly considering going before the voters and asking for a fourth term.

Van Dusen, 68, said he won’t finalize his decision until the summer, but as of today he said, “I’m leaning toward running.”

The mayor cautioned there is another election taking place this year that just might be of greater importance.

“We need to elect [the] President of the United States,” Van Dusen said. “I think that takes precedence.”

Another term would continue the journey for Van Dusen who has been involved in politics and government for much of his career. In January 1999, Van Dusen was elected Mayor by his fellow trustees following the resignation of Jacqueline Gorell. He was elected outright by the voters in 2001 and continued to serve as the village’s chief executive ever since. He's also the chairman of the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County and teaches history part-time at Oakton Community College.

If Van Dusen were re-elected to a fourth term he would serve until 2017, which is just short of legendary Skokie Mayor Al Smith, who presided over the village from 1965 to 1988.

The entire village board is up for election in the spring of 2013.

In the meantime, the village will have many issues to deal with this year, particularly on Oakton Street. The face of Skokie’s downtown will change very soon as the CTA prepares to open a new stop on the Yellow Line at Oakton, the first new addition on the line since its opening in 1964. The new station should be up and running around March, according to the village.

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