Lockport mayor appoints replacement for vacant City Council seat Wednesday

A former Lockport high school teacher will fill the vacant City Council seat of Lockport Alderman Jason VanderMeer until April.

The Lockport City Council on Wednesday night approved Mayor Steven Streit’s appointment of Mark R. Lobes to the seat, which VanderMeer left vacant in July because of a relocation for his job.

Lobes is an engineering and graphic design teacher at Victor J. Andrew High School in Tinley Park, where he has taught for 14 years. He also coaches the boys’ bowling team.

Lobes previously taught at Lockport Township High School from 2003 to 2005 and at Downers Grove North High School from 2001 to 2003.

Lobes was born and raised in Downers Grove before moving to Lockport in 2005. He lives in the Townes of Cedar Ridge in Lockport’s 3rd Ward.

Lobes also has served as a trustee for the Homer Township Fire District for three terms, holding the posts of president pro tem in his second term and secretary in his third term.

He was also the lead contract negotiator for the board, Streit said.

Lobes is “well-versed in local issues” and came to find out about the City Council vacancy from VanderMeer, who also lived in Lobes’ subdivision.

He also served as the president of the homeowners’ association for his subdivision for eight years and would often talk with VanderMeer about issues that would arise in their community, Lobes said.

Some of the issues he would like to focus on as alderman include the revitalizing of the city’s downtown and shoring up the sales tax base in Lockport by attracting more businesses.

One idea he wants to bring to the council is possibly bringing condominium buildings to the downtown that would have businesses on the first floor, he said.

He also said he would like to see more commercial development east of Interstate 355.

Since VanderMeer’s term expires in the spring, Lobes would have to file in December as a candidate in the April City Council general election.

He said filing is something he might consider, but he had not yet decided to pursue it Wednesday.

Streit said Lobes was one of four well-qualified people he interviewed for the position.

“I gotta tell you, it was tough because any one of them would have made a great alderperson,” he said.

VanderMeer was the finance liaison for the City Council, but Streit said after the meeting he will find another position for Lobes that works with his skill set, and he has not yet decided on the next finance liaison.