Homer Glen Mayor Christina Neitzke-Troike has filed for reelection and will be challenged by community advocate Heidi Pacella in the April 6 election.
Joining Neitzke-Troike on her ticket are incumbent clerk Candice Bielski, incumbent trustees Bartholomew “Bart” Holzhauser and Robert Schaller, and newcomer Deidre “Deide” Fischer, who is running for trustee.
Incumbent Trustee Curt Mason did not file for reelection.
Trustee candidates running with Pacella are Michael McGee, John Booras and Ruben L. Pazmino. Pazmino, a local restaurant owner, was a trustee from 2019 to 2023, but lost reelection in 2023 and a bid in 2025.
Candidates also seeking office are Susan Bengtson for clerk and John Walters for trustee.
Candidates in Homer Glen had until Oct. 26 to file their petitions to determine whether there would be a primary election in February.
Because of the number of candidates who filed for office, there is no need for a primary, and candidates will advance to the April 6 election, the Homer Glen clerk’s office said. Voters will cast ballots for mayor, clerk and three trustees to each serve four-year terms.
A lottery will be held Monday to determine ballot position for Holzhauser, Fischer and Schaller, who filed their petitions at the same time.
Monday is also the final day for anyone to file an objection to the petitions, the clerk’s office said.
Neitzke-Troike is running for a second term as mayor. Homer Glen has a two-term limit for the office of mayor.
In 2025, Neitzke-Troike appointed both Holzhauser and Schaller to their positions to replace trustees Craig McNaughton, who resigned due to conflicts with work, and Sue Steilen, who resigned after she was elected Homer Township supervisor. Both of their terms ended in 2027.
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Neitzke-Troike’s platform includes building upon her first term and promoting responsible growth, water independence, public safety, protecting the environment and open space and promoting local businesses. She said the village has a better working relationship with Homer Township. Improving civility, transparency and recognizing community accomplishments have been important, she said.
Neitzke-Troike has frequently advocated on behalf of Homer Glen before the Will County Board, criticizing the Division of Transportation’s plans to widen both County Highway 1 and 143rd Street. In 2023, Homer Glen took over jurisdiction of County Highway 1, which includes portions of Hadley and Parker roads and Chicago-Bloomington Trail, to end the road project and protect the corridor. The County Board last year approved a plan that reduced the scope of the 143rd Street project.
She has also fought against projects that don’t fit the village’s vision, including when Badger Daylighting Corporation asked for Will County’s approval to locate its nondestructive hydro-excavation business and store trucks on 159th Street. The County Board denied the project.
“Our plan is to protect this community’s motto,” Neitzke-Troike said.
Neitzke-Troike has also voiced her frustration to the Illinois Commerce Commission during multiple public hearings on Illinois American Water rate increase requests, and she has led efforts to bring a new wastewater treatment plant to the village.
She said her slate offers a wide range of expertise, knows the pulse of the community and has experience necessary to lead the village.
Pacella has been a local advocate since 2023 and started the Parker Hadley Preservation website as a public information forum to help fight the county’s widening of County Highway 1.
Pacella in 2025 ran as a write-in candidate for trustee after she was removed from the ballot for using the nickname “Hadley” in her petitions. An Electoral Board ruled that it was an improper nickname that drew attention to her efforts to preserve Hadley Road and election code does not allow someone to use a moniker that may be considered a political slogan.
Pacella spoke out repeatedly against the 143rd Street widening before the Will County Board and Homer Glen Village Board and has organized neighbors in the efforts to protest county road expansion projects. Pacella has been a frequent voice during Homer Glen’s public comment section at Village Board meetings, including criticizing the license plate reader cameras, or Flock cameras, before the board voted on them.
Pacella’s husband, Dominic, has sought office as a candidate for Homer Township trustee with Steve Balich’s Will County Freedom Caucus slate. The slate lost in the February 2025 Republican primary.
Pacella didn’t return voicemails or emails seeking comment. Her campaign website said she is running a nonpartisan campaign for Homer Glen to preserve its history, protect open land and restore accountable leadership.
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.