Frank Aguilar selected to replace Tobolski on Cook County Board

Democratic committeemen in the 16th Cook County Board District Wednesday voted to name Frank J. Aguilar, a former state representative and activist in the Mexican-American community, to serve as the successor to Jeffrey Tobolski, who resigned from office last month, according to a news release.

Tobolski, resigned from the Cook County Board and from his position as mayor of McCook, months after federal agents searched his offices at McCook’s Village Hall.

Aguilar will hold the seat for two years until the next election.

The meeting, which was held at the Italian American Club located in Cicero, was chaired by Berwyn Township Democratic Committeeman Robert Lovero.

Six candidates presented their credentials to the committee during a two-hour meeting.

The 16th District Democratic selection committee included Lovero, Vince Cainkar of Stickney Township, Blanca Vargas of Cicero Township, Karen Yarbrough of Proviso Township, Steven Landek of Lyons Township, Barrett Pederson of Leyden Township, Mike Zalewski of Riverside Township and Arron Ortiz of the 14th ward. Pederson participated by teleconference.  Zalewski provided his proxy votes to the committee and was unable to attend the meeting.

Each committee member spoke on behalf of several of the candidates who were interviewed.

“The intent of the committee meeting was to bring everyone together to select the best candidate to complete the remaining two years of the four year term and Frank Aguilar received the majority of the votes,” Landek said in the release.

Landek said it was expected from the committee that candidates who presented themselves, if selected, would abide by a set of ethical rules established by Cook County and the state, provide full transparency while in the office and make district outreach their  priority.

The committee took several straw votes before Aguilar was selected as Tobolski’s successor to serve the people of the 16th District, Landek said.

The committee’s selection was forwarded to the Democratic Party of Cook County and will be presented to the Cook County Board to complete the appointment process.

Rizoma Collective, which describes itself as a political action committee dedicated to community, transparency and social-justice within Cicero, Berwyn and surrounding neighborhoods, expressed disappointment with the appointment of Aguilar, "who is neither qualified nor represents the interests and needs of our district," according to a statement.

"As a long-time former Republican, Aguilar’s voting record and ongoing support of anti-immigrant conservatives, such as Congressman Dan Lipinski and Bill Conway, demonstrate a political career that does not align with the well-being and needs of the majority-Latinx and immigrant populations in Berwyn and Cicero," the statement said.

"Rizoma is also concerned that under Aguilar’s tenure as chair of the Morton College Board of Trustees, Morton College was put on notice by the Higher Learning Commission for concerns about governance and the operation and behavior of its board members.” Aguilar failed Morton College, and we believe he will also fail Cook County," according to the statement.

Aguilar has served as a liaison to the Hispanic and Latino community in the 16th District for more than 15 years. He was a member of the Illinois House from 2002 until 2004, and has since headed the Cicero Mexican American Cultural Committee, organizing annual events for the Mexican American community,including the annual Cinco de Mayo celebration.

Aguilar also served as the former executive director of the Little Village Chamber of Commerce, and serves on the Junior Achievement Suburban Regional Board.

He also served as a member and chairman of the Morton College Board from 2007 until 2020, resigning as a result of the appointment. He also taught business administration at Morton College and served as a representative of the Allied Production Workers Union in Cook County.

The 16th District extends from Franklin Park in the north to Hodgkins in the south and includes Cicero, Bridgeview, Berwyn, Lyons, Forest View, Melrose Park and parts of Chicago's Little Village neighborhood.