It’s Not About Craig
When we discuss Elk Grove Village, the conversation almost inevitably begins and ends with Mayor Craig Johnson.
The Village has seen significant growth during his 3+ decade tenure. We’re even building new single-family homes for the first time in 20+ years! And, through it all, Mayor Johnson has been the most visible face of Elk Grove Village.
Now, regardless how many of us may feel about him personally (or how he may feel about some of us), the fact is he’s run unopposed for most of his tenure. Every Village needs a Mayor and he’s been the only one raising his hand for the job since 2009 (his last contested election appears to have been in 2005).
But when we talk about actual municipal governance—the nuts and bolts of how Village policies are passed and how your tax dollars are spent—we needn’t focus on the Mayor (who isn’t even up for election this cycle). Rather, we must talk about the Board of Trustees. The Trustees that you elect are the only ones who can pass the Ordinances (including the most recent one providing increases in the pay for themselves and the Mayor).
And, if you didn’t catch that while watching the September 8 meeting, join the club. No one did—the Agenda failed to provide adequate notice, and the Trustees didn’t bother to discuss the pay raise on the record. Fortunately, I found and reported on all that last week.
So now, in my conversations with people around the Village the last few weeks, the same question keeps popping up: “Where does the buck actually stop?”
I’ve done the homework and I have the answer to the question. And here’s a hint: it isn’t Mayor Craig Johnson.
Who Actually Casts the Votes?
In Elk Grove Village, the Mayor does not have the sweeping authority that many residents assume. Under the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5/3.1-40-30) and corresponding Village Code, the Mayor does not vote on ordinances, resolutions, or motions unless there is a tie or some other narrow/special provisions (none of which are at issue here).
Village Code 1-6-4: Mayor’s limited role with creating law
Every ordinance, every permit for a data center, every contract for an event, every pay increase, and every dollar allocated in the municipal budget is approved by the six elected Trustees. They own all the decisions. While the Mayor sets the agenda and runs the meeting, the Trustees hold the actual power to say "Aye" (yes) or "Nay” (No).
Go ahead and revisit any Village Board meeting on Channel 6’s Youtube: when the Mayor says something “passes unanimously,” or that all six Trustees voted “Aye” (and that seems to be the standard), its the Trustees you elected who passed the proposal and gave it the force of law. Not Mayor Johnson.
The buck doesn’t stop with the Mayor— the buck stops with the six Trustees.
The Absent Debates
If the Mayor basically only votes to break ties, and never vetoes anything when was the last time a tie-break was actually needed? Or when was the last time the Board had a split vote, a substantive discussion, or even a dissenting "Nay"? Or when was the last time the Board even rejected a submitted proposal?
Public records show no record of substantive debate among the current Trustees. Deals appear to be sealed with unanimous 6-0 consent agenda votes. This raises questions about transparency and adherence to the Open Meetings Act. Of note, no Mayor of Elk Grove Village has cast a tie-breaking vote in modern memory (the last recorded instance was in October 1990 by Mayor Zettek).
In fact, the last substantive “Nay” that I could find in the record was in April 2013 (Trustee Petri objected to signage).1
The only other “recent Nay” I could find was by Trustee Feichter to a motion to adjourn the meeting in February 2018. It seems like it may have been in jest…
Now, of course, the Mayor could veto any ordinance passed (including the one increasing the Trustee and his pay), but, realistically, why would he bother? All the Trustees voted 6-0 in favor of it in the first instant!
And, I could find no instances where Mayor Johnson vetoed anything.
In fact, I could find no instance where Mayor Johnson casted a vote in his entire nearly 30-year tenure as Mayor.
The Need for Rigorous Oversight
When a single figure dominates the spotlight for decades, surrounding officials can easily slip into complacent deference. But Trustees are not elected to simply nod along and vote as they’re told; they are chosen to scrutinize, question, and represent residents with vigor. When every vote is unanimous without debate, the Board functions less like an independent legislative body and more like a rubber stamp.
Elk Grove Village prides itself on being "The Exceptional Community." To live up to that standard (and especially to Exceed Exceptional), Trustees must actively debate every proposal, demand strong taxpayer ROI, and push back when policies don't serve our neighborhoods—and they must do so on the record.
In the final analysis, it’s not about Craig; it is about the six Trustees whose votes decide our Village's future.
The buck stops with the Trustees.
It’s time to fill those seats with representatives who exercise the rigorous oversight our community deserves.
