Latham wins three-way race for Sandwich mayor

Sandwich voters elected Todd Latham to a four-year term as mayor in balloting Tuesday, April 6.

Final, unofficial vote totals from Kendall and DeKalb counties show Latham the winner in a three-way race for the city’s top elective job with 547 votes to 404 for incumbent Mayor Rich Robinson and 74 votes for James McMaster.

Robinson had served as mayor since being appointed to the position following the resignation of Rick Olson in May 2019.

Latham, 50, of 115 Boulevard St., is business services coordinator with Geneva School District 304. He is also no stranger to city government or city organizations. Latham served as Ward 2 alderman from 1997 through 2005. His other office appointments include DeKalb County Board of Health, where he was a commissioner from 2008 to 2014 and vice president in 2013; and the Sandwich Park District, where he’s been a commissioner from 2013 to 2021 and was president from 2017 to 2020.

In an interview prior to Tuesday’s election Latham said the city’s infrastructure is falling apart, but that’s just part of many of the city’s many current challenges.

“Businesses [are] closing and leaving Sandwich,” Latham said. “The city appears to be spending more than they collect. The city is or will be adding over $20 million of debt, payable by the citizens through property taxes and water/sewer rates increases. The city has been in violation of the Open Meetings Act and is in need of transparency and leadership.”

Latham acknowledged that he has concerns with the city’s aging streets, sewers, sidewalks and storm sewers. They need attention, but how can the city pay for the new infrastructure?

“I will put our attention and resources toward economic development,” Latham said. “In order to pay for the necessary improvements and lessen the burden on current residents/taxpayers, I plan to attract new residential, commercial and industry to grow the tax base.”