Two In, Two Out, and One Returned to the Village Board

It was one of the most hotly-contested elections in the village of Montgomery’s recent history. And when the dust cleared, voters sent two new trustees to the board, voting off two incumbents, and returned a 24-year veteran to his seat.

The two newbies are Stan Bond and Matt Brolley, two residents with differing ideas about the future of the village. They will replace two incumbents: Jeanne Felten, who served two terms, and Robert Watermann, who served from 2001 to 2004, and then from 2006 on.

The third incumbent in the race, Pete Heinz, will return to the board for a seventh term.

With all unofficial results tallied, Bond won 22 percent of the votes in Kane County, Heinz 18 percent and Brolley 13 percent. Brolley took Kendall County by five votes, winning 22 percent of the vote. Bond took 22 percent as well, with Heinz taking 17 percent.

Two other challengers, Martin Flowers and Josh Salisbury, competed as well, making it a seven-way race for three seats—an almost unheard-of contest in Montgomery.

Bond and Heinz spent the evening at The Mill Tavern on River Street, and supporters raised glasses and cheered them. Heinz said he would reserve his comments for Wednesday, but did say he is thankful to the residents of the village for returning him to office.

“That board don’t mean nothing without the residents,” Heinz said. “I don’t answer to nobody else but the residents.”

Bond said his edge came from listening to the residents, and hearing what they had to say—something, he believes, has been lacking in the village of late.

“I’m very pleased,” he said. “The voters have spoken.”

Brolley, meanwhile, held his victory party at AmericInn in Oswego, surrounded by family and friends. He pointed to the support he received in the Lakewood Creek subdivision as an important factor, but said he spent a lot of time knocking on doors and talking with voters.

“I look forward to working with everyone on the board,” he said.

While Felten could not be reached for comment Tuesday, Watermann posted the following statement:

"Congratulations to Stan, Pete and Matt. I wish each of you the best of luck and sincerely want the best for our village. I thank everyone for your support."

Heinz and the new board members take office on May 1, and will be sworn in at the first Village Board meeting in May.

Unofficial vote totals: