WJOL host files to run for Will County Board

A Joliet radio station host filed a petition to run for a seat on the Will County Board in this year’s primary election, but said he has not decided whether he’ll stay in the race.

Kevin Hedemark, known for hosting the Kevin Kollins Show on WJOL-AM, filed to run as a Democrat to represent District 9 on the County Board. The district includes much of Romeoville and parts of Bolingbrook. He listed a Romeoville address when he requested his petition.

Hedemark told the Herald-News on Tuesday that while he did turn in a petition, he has not decided to actually run for the position.

“I haven’t made any official decision yet,” he said, adding there are “a lot of factors” that he would consider.

He added that he always had an interest in politics but still has to decide if “now is the right time” to run for office. He also said there have been some issues specific to the County Board that he believes need attention, but declined to elaborate on what those issues were.

If he runs, Hedemark would face two other Democrats running in the June 28 primary for District 9, including incumbent Margaret Tyson of Bolingbrook and Destinee Ortiz of Romeoville.

While Hedemark also said his employer is aware of his filing to run for local office, he has not spoken “in depth with them” about the race. He added he could withdraw from the race, which he has until April 27 to do, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections website.

“I will make the decision at some point when the time is right,” he said.

Hedemark is the co-host of the morning show on Star 96.7-FM in addition to hosting his afternoon show on WJOL. Both stations are a part of Alpha Media. He also serves as a volunteer auxiliary officer with the Will County Sheriff’s Office, according to his LinkedIn page.

If Hedemark runs, he would not be the first WJOL personality to jump into local politics. Scott Slocum, the station’s content director and morning show host, is a sitting Channahon village trustee.

Hedemark’s potential candidacy also might affect WJOL’s ability to have him host his show without needing to entertain requests from his opponents for equal on-air opportunities.

Equal opportunities for radio or TV use are available to “legally qualified” candidates, according to the Federal Communications Commission. The station would not be required to seek opposing candidates in the same race to offer equal opportunities.

A station may ask an on-air personality who also is a candidate to take a leave of absence from their on-air duties until they are no longer considered a legally qualified candidate, the FCC said.

That issue came up during another local race in 2013 when former Chicago Bears player Steve McMichael ran for mayor of Romeoville. ESPN removed McMichael from his radio appearances once he filed to run for office.

McMichael said at the time the move was because of a letter from the attorney of his opponent, Romeoville Mayor John Noak, invoking the equal opportunity rule.

The primary election is June 28.