The three incumbent aldermen seeking re-election to the Countryside City Council bristled after challengers called them “a rubber stamp.”
Nothing could be farther from the truth, they said, when each was interviewed for this story.
John Finn, Mark Benson and John Von Drasek are seeking four-year terms in the April 1 election.
“I think it’s a goofy comment,” Benson said.
“Just because we’re ‘yes’ votes at the city council doesn’t mean we don’t disagree. We work out all our issues at the committee level,” Benson said.
The challengers “once in a while will come to a city council meeting. They don’t come to committee meetings,” he said.
Finn agreed, saying “they don’t understand how it works. It takes time. It can take weeks, months.”
Von Drasek said he attended committee and council meetings for two straight years before he first ran for the council.
Each said they are proud of the city’s fast and helpful response to the tornado that swept through the city in July 2024.
“It was a shining moment against a horrible moment,” Benson said.
John Finn
Finn, 59, is challenged by Rosemary Dostal in the 1st Ward.
Finn was appointed to the council by Mayor Sean McDermott after the sudden passing of Ald. Bob Pondelicek in 2016.
Finn, who won election in 2017 and 2021, agreed to be appointed “because I like to be involved in the community.”
“I’m a believer in instead of complaining, get involved and try to help,” he said. “I enjoy it. I really do.”
Finn, who lives a few blocks south of the former city hall site, voted against the development plan because “I took the feedback from our residents.”
But he also knows some sort of tax-generating development will eventually be built at the prime location.
“Everyone is like, ‘Get a Panera.’ I can’t force it,” Finn said.
He liked the idea of a brew pub: “Walk over there and have a beer on the rooftop.”
Finn recalled how many residents opposed the bike path on Brainard Avenue, between 55th Street and Joliet Road, which is now warmly embraced.
Finn is a commercial and aviation account manager with Forest Insurance in Forest Park.
If re-elected, Finn wants to “keep the progress going.”
As chair of the finance committee, he loves how the city abates the city’s share of property taxes to residents annually.
He also likes how the council “keeps our police well-funded,” along with the job done by Police Chief Paul Klimek.
Finn chairs the council’s St. Patrick’s parade committee each year. “It’s a great day. It’s tough to say ‘no’ to that,” he said.
“The town’s in good shape,” he added, “and I’m proud to be an alderman.”
John Von Drasek
Von Drasek, 61, is challenged by John Harris in the 2nd Ward.
After serving five four-terms – the longest-serving alderman on the current council – Von Drasek said, “I still enjoy it and I’m not burned out.”
“I have a deep connection with my residents and I feel like they’re part of my family,” he said.
“Most of them are pretty happy with my performance. They can reach me any time, day or night, weekends.”
He’ll keep running for elected office until there’s someone ready to take the job who shares the passion he has for being alderman, he said.
The tornado resulted in Von Drasek working to clean up the ward six straight days. He’s not complaining.
Von Drasaek, who chairs the council’s economic development committee, said, “It’s been challenging (to attract businesses) ever since the pandemic (started in 2020).”
The old city hall site, he noted, represents change and he knows some people don’t like that.
But there remains a need to “find a balance to make everyone happy.”
“What threw a wrench in the project was the East Avenue (redevelopment) took so long,” he said. He noted the developer made concessions to residents like proposing a berm on the south side of the site.
A roofer by trade, he had his own business before joining Licitra Roofing in Brookfield. He knows about construction and about being in business, he said.
If re-elected, Von Drasek said the city needs to develop various properties. He wants to bring back a program that had youths raking leaves for seniors.
He’s proud that the city has funded 95 percent of the police pension fund.
“We have incredible staff (in the city). … Gail (Paul) is one in a million. Very focused. Dedicated,” he said of the city administrator.
Being alderman is “humbling,” said Von Drasek, who leans on his career to help Countryside.
“Knowledge is knowing where to go to get the answers. Having worked in many communities, when I see something working, I ask who I can talk to and bring it back to our city,” he said.
Mark Benson
Benson, 59, is challenged by Larry Howard in the 3rd Ward.
A superintendent for Pacific Construction, Benson thinks his career has helped him as an alderman.
“A good example of that is building the new city hall and police station. I was on the design board for that project, picking out materials and contractors, things like that,” said Benson, 59, and a third-generation carpenter.
He’s served on the city council since he was appointed in 2015 by Mayor Sean McDermott. Benson won elections in 2021 and 2017. This is the first time he’s being challenged.
Benson wants another term “because I like doing the work”.
“I like responding to residents, helping residents with issues. We should all give back to our government and do our civic duty,” Benson said.
He recently dealt with speeders on 57th Street between Longview and La Grange Road after a resident reached out.
“I responded to the resident and forwarded it to the chief. Within the next two hours, the chief of police had given a mandate to his officers to spend time on 57th Street,” Benson said.
The resident soon replied that “the system works.” Moments like that please Benson.
As mentioned earlier, one of the biggest issues facing the city council is what will happen to the southwest corner of 55th Street and East Avenue, where the former city hall sits.
A developer’s plan fizzled after nearly three years. It’s back to Square One.
“There definitely has to be sales tax generated. It’s important we bring new businesses into the city,” Benson said.
He’s not sure if IDOT road work on 55th Street and East Avenue delayed the project or more of “this developer not being able to procure the people he wanted in there.”
Assuming he wins, Benson’s to-do list involves “keep doing what we’re doing.”
“As chairman of the infrastructure committee, we’ll be repaving streets, keep upgrading water mains,” he said.
He disagreed with his opponent Larry who wants the city to have its own recreation center.
Benson noted there’s a deal with Western Springs that allows Countryside residents to use their recreation facilities for a modest fee.
“Ask my opponent how he plans to pay for a recreation center. How can we afford the $15 million plus to acquire the land, build a building and staff a recreation department?” Benson said.
The election is April 1. Early voting is now underway.
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