Eleanor Murkey, the chair of Save Our Wards, which opposed the referendum, claimed victory for her group Tuesday night as 55.9% of voters said no and 44.1% voted yes, according to unofficial results on the Lake County clerk’s website.
Jane Ferry, the city’s public relations specialist, said she checked city records and while two Hispanics have in the past served on the City Council at the same time, this will be the first time three will hold office simultaneously.
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at polling places throughout Lake County as voters choose heads of their local government and governing bodies like city councils, village boards, school boards, park commissioners and library trustees, as well as decide referendum questions.
O’Connor and Hayes are competing to represent the residents of Waukegan’s sprawling 9th Ward on the City Council which covers parts of Waukegan, Warren and Libertyville townships in the April 4 general election.
At least three new aldermen will join the Waukegan City Council in May after a pair of incumbents were ousted in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, and there will be a new face on the North Chicago City Council as well.