CAMPTON HILLS – Patsy Smith, the first village president of Campton Hills was ousted in a consolidated election in April, after an extended period of political drama.

Smith was seeking a third term. Campton Hills was created by a referendum in 2007.

During the year, Smith opposed Dan Hoffman’s reappointment as police chief. She also tried to remove a trustee from the board and put Jennifer Johnsen, the village’s first professional administrator, on leave. As the board majority voted against Smith, she would veto their actions. Board members would override her vetoes.

Some meetings lasted past midnight, with some trustees calling their own special meetings and sometimes boycotting Smith’s meetings. The board majority hired their own legal counsel, as they lost confidence in longtime village attorney William Braithwaite, whom they saw as an advocate for Smith, rather than for the village.

Meetings became so contentious, that, at times, elected officials used a copy of “Robert’s Rules of Order” to allow the holder of it the right to speak uninterrupted.

Smith ultimately ran as a write-in candidate. She lost to Harry Blecker, who was voted in as the new village president.

– Brenda Schory