Will County Gazette

More than 90 people attended a "Meet the Candidates" reception at Chicago Dough Company in New Lenox.

The reception was held Sat. Sept 18 by Mike Rose, partner and founder of Mokena-based LFI Real Estate.

Among those in attendance included several candidates running for office in the April 4 Consolidated election, including Hillary Kurzawa (Frankfort Village Board) Donna Vegter (Frankfort Township Fire Protection District) and Jeff Tarala (157C School District Board).

Existing officeholders attending were Tom Barz (Frankfort Park District), Daniel Rossi and Michael Leddin (Frankfort Village Board) and Joe Kral (Frankfort Township Assessor) as well as Bob Kennedy (Lincoln Way High School Foundation) and Dan Regan, president of Town Center Bank.

Kurzawa, 37, is one of five candidates running for three spots on the Frankfort Village Board. She's a hairstylist and stay-at-home mom.

Kurzawa has been endorsed by current Frankfort Mayor Keith Ogle.

Vegter, 51, is one of three candidates running for two open spots on the Frankfort Township Fire Protection District board. She's been on the board since 2003. The term is six years.

Tarala, 40, of Frankfort, is one of nine candidates vying for four spots on the 157C school board. He has been a teacher at Lincoln Way School District 210 since 2007.

Frankfort 157c includes Hickory Creek Middle School, Grand Prairie Elementary and Chelsea Intermediate.

Founded in the south suburbs, LFI has developed more than 100 properties across the U.S. It is currently developing the Gardens of Frankfort, near the southeast corner of Steger Road and Route 45, featuring upscale manufactured housing along with a clubhouse and amenities

Thiti Rose, office manager for Gardens of Frankfort and David Hene, project manager attended the reception and are leading the project for LFI.