Meet the Candidates: Wilmette village president, and Library and District 39 boards (uncontested)

The elections for the Wilmette village president, Wilmette Library Board and Wilmette District 39 Board of Education are each uncontested.

Senta Plunkett is seeking her second term as Wilmette’s village president. She was first elected following a contested race in 2021.

Three newcomers — Jennifer Mullman, Eric Bederman and Matthew Thomas Pasko — are set to join the Wilmette Public Library Board of Trustees. The terms of Trustees Mary Anne O’Keefe, Tracy Sommer and Trish Nealon expire this year.

Three new members — Judith Berlin, Kristin de Castro and Katherine Hilton — are also set to join the Wilmette District 39 Board of Education. Though with four seats available, a fourth board member will need be appointed post-election. Anne Hart, Bonnie Kim and Jon Cesaretti are rolling off the School Board.

Below are basic profiles of the candidates, each of whom either submitted a digital form upon request from The Record or the League of Women Voters of Wilmette. School Board candidate Katherine Hilton has yet to return information.

These profiles are a layer of The Record’s election coverage and are meant to provide community members with basic information about those running for and taking public office. The Record will not conduct independent interviews for uncontested races.

WILMETTE VILLAGE PRESIDENT

Name: Senta Plunkett

Professional experience: Attorney, worked as assistant corporation counsel for the City of Chicago

Community experience/involvement: I have been serving as Wilmette village president for the past four years. Prior to that I served as a trustee for six years and was an appointed member of the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners and the Historic Preservation Commission, where I served as chair.

Why are you running for reelection to this public office?

I’m looking forward to keeping up the momentum created over the last several years. It’s an exciting time for Wilmette on numerous fronts. Our business districts are thriving and economic development should remain a priority of the Village.

Wilmette’s long-term planning process has identified many infrastructure needs, including the police station, lead service replacements, water main replacements and roadway and streetscape improvements that I am eager to further in my next term.

I am proud of all the components contained in our new comprehensive plan, and look forward to continuing the Village’s sustainability efforts, and addressing our future housing needs.

WILMETTE LIBRARY BOARD

Name: Jennifer Mullman

Professional experience: I’ve been a fundraiser and connector in the nonprofit sector for 25 years. For the past decade, I have been a member of the senior leadership team at the Northwestern University Libraries and the Northwestern University Press as their chief development officer. My primary role has been a capital campaign to renovate Northwestern’s historic Deering Library. Prior to that role, I led fundraising and communications at Openlands, a regional conservation organization, and directed the capital campaign that created Fort Sheridan’s Openlands Lakeshore Preserve.

Community experience/involvement: We’ve lived in Wilmette for 12 years. I’m a board member of the Friends of the Wilmette Public Library, whose mission is to raise funds to support community programming. Throughout my time in Wilmette, I have volunteered in a wide range of capacities for our schools, Girl Scouts, and church.

Why are you running for this public office?

I want to ensure we have welcoming spaces for library services, on par with other local libraries. I would like to support the library in its collection development, both in print and digitally, and support programming that meets the needs of our community. My children have grown up benefiting from the programs at the library. As a member of the Friends of the Library, I have played a role in raising funds that were used to support vital programming. As a nonprofit fundraiser by profession, I can lend my expertise and creativity to increasing support for the library.

(Information taken from League of Wilmette Voters Election Guide. View full profile here.)

Name: Eric Bederman

Professional experience: CFO/COO of Evanston-based investment advisor

Why are you running for this public office?

During the time that my family has lived in Wilmette, the library has been the learning center of our family. We check out books for pleasure and school, videos, tools from the library of things, audio books, and music. We are at the library at least 2-3 times per month physically and even more if you count the online resources. I decided to run for library trustee board to help ensure that the residents of Wilmette and Kenilworth continue to have access to a vibrant and resource-rich facility.

Like all tax-based community organizations, I believe the main priorities of the library are to continue offering high quality programs, collections, and facilities to the residents using the finite amount of tax revenue the organization receives. The challenge is to use these funds wisely; to try to derive the maximum benefit.

(Information taken from League of Wilmette Voters Election Guide. View full profile here.)

Name: Matthew Thomas Pasko

Professional experience: Private investor, degree in biology

Why are you running for this public office?

The reason I am running is because I want to give back to an institution that has given me so much since I received my first library card when I was five years old. I have been coming back to the same library for 26 years and over the past few years I have been going to the library at least once every other week because for me it has been an invaluable resource for school and life, and above all enjoyment.

WILMETTE DISTRICT 39 BOARD OF EDUCATION

(Information taken from League of Wilmette Voters Election Guide. View full profile here.)

Name: Judith Berlin

Professional experience: Retired teacher, taught every grade level, kindergarten through eighth, and every academic discipline except global language.

Community experience/involvement: Formerly: Romona PTA, including as president; D39 School Improvement Advisory Committee; Illinois School and Parent Initiative, a statewide summit and regional task force appointed by the governor.

Why are you running for this public office?

My husband and I have been residents of Wilmette for over forty years. My children attended Wilmette District 39 schools and D39 provided a solid foundation for their education and their future. Now my grandchildren are enrolled in D39 schools and I want to ensure that their generation has access to the strong education opportunities for which Wilmette has always been known.

I will bring to the board table a wealth of experience and an understanding of the real-world impact of board decisions.

(Information taken from League of Wilmette Voters Election Guide. View full profile here.)

Name: Kristin de Castro

Professional experience: Marketing and advertising

Community experience: Executive board of Central Elementary PTO

Why are you running for this public office?

I chose to run for the D39 school board because I believe children’s education is a top priority for our community. The Wilmette public school system is one to be proud of and I want to do my part to keep it strong. I am committed to serving the Wilmette community and doing what I can to maintain and improve the quality of our public schools.

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