Lake County Gazette

At the end of Election Day on April 1 Tom Munger was ahead by only seven votes. 

Munger, a first time candidate who self-financed his campaign, said he is optimistic but is waiting for provisional ballots and some absentee votes to be counted before he celebrates. 

"I'm a little hesitant to say I've won yet," Munger told the Lake County Gazette. "There are still provisional ballots out there, and I don't know how many. I think there might be fewer because it's a local election, but I’m really not sure. I feel pretty good, but I’ve never really done this before, so we’ll see how it shakes out."

The current vote count shows Jill Raizin leading the field of four candidates vying for three spots, with 31.96% of the vote, securing 682 votes. Robert Mitchell followed with 23.95%, receiving 511 votes. Munger earned 22.21%, totaling 474 votes, and Elliot Dubin received 21.88%, garnering 467 votes. A total of 2,134 ballots were cast in the election.

Munger said the county will release updated vote counts, with the first update expected by Friday, April 4 at 5 p.m. and continuing through April 15. 

Despite the uncertainty over the final vote tally, Munger expressed gratitude for the support he has received. 

"No matter how this plays out, I’m really grateful for everybody that did vote for me," he said. "I appreciate having the confidence of enough people in the community to be in this position. If I do wind up holding out, I will do my best to be a thoughtful steward of the town's resources."

Munger, a Lincolnshire native, ran for village trustee with a focus on maintaining the community’s legacy while ensuring sustainable growth. His campaign strategy was focused on grassroots efforts. He added that he received positive feedback from most residents, who appreciated his door-to-door outreach.

"I spent a lot of time knocking on doors and passing on information," he said. "I didn’t have money to put into this. I did what I could with networking and effort on my part." 

He emphasized the non-partisan nature of the race and noted that the election was primarily driven by local issues. 

"From what I can tell, this has been a pretty local election, and that's how it's supposed to be," he said. "I don’t think broader parties were trying to get involved, and I think that’s good. That’s the way it should be."

As a first-time candidate, he reflected on his decision to run, stressing the importance of younger families getting involved in shaping the community's future.

Munger, who recently returned to the area with his wife and newborn son, James, emphasized that Lincolnshire is “a great place to grow up and raise a family.” As a young parent, Munger believes he can represent the interests of his generation in the community and plans to collaborate with anyone committed to thoughtful development. 

"I think it's important that younger families be involved because it’s our community too," Munger said. "It’s good to get involved early because it shows initiative, and it helps you realize the benefits of being a member of the community."

During the campaign Munger praised Lincolnshire’s current leadership, noting the balanced budgets and healthy reserve fund and emphasized the importance of continuing to develop strategic revenue streams to offset rising costs.

With experience in mechanical engineering and an MBA, Munger works for Amcor, where he manages product strategies. During the campaign he said he plans to apply his strategic mindset to the village’s governance, especially in maintaining fiscal responsibility. 

Infrastructure, particularly aging water and sewer systems, is a key area of focus for Munger. He supports ongoing upgrades and long-term planning for flood prevention around the Des Plaines River. 

Looking ahead, Munger stressed that the more experience one gains in local governance, the better equipped they are to lead. 

"The more involved you get, the more experience you develop," he said. "I think that's how you really help to develop your talents—by being involved over the long run. To be involved in the long run, you’ve got to start early."