Mickey Straub on Election Win: 'It Was Meant to Be'

Mickey Straub said he didn’t expect to win the Burr Ridge village president election until Saturday, when he felt momentum building as he visited residents door-to-door and gained their support.

“It was like an ah-ha moment,” Straub said on the phone Wednesday in between appointments with local people he wanted to thank. “It felt like I really can win this thing.”

Straub beat acting Village President Robert Sodikoff and fellow challenger John Bittner in Tuesday’s municipal election. The Abraham Lincoln enthusiast who traveled to all 50 U.S. capitols last fall to recite the Gettysburg Address grabbed 919 votes Tuesday. Sodikoff had 758 and Bittner had 287.

Straub admitted his campaign could’ve been better, and that he’s not the perfect candidate. Even so, Straub said he thinks the voters chose him because he’s a “consensus builder” who will aim to make Burr Ridge “resident-focused and business-friendly.”

“It was meant to be,” Straub said.

The new village president split his priorities into two groups: communication and business development.

To improve communication between Burr Ridge’s government and its residents, Straub wants to have a resident advisory council and, if the community does not like his idea of dividing the village into wards, he’ll explore the idea of assigning trustees to certain areas of the village so that all residents have “a point person” to go to with their views and concerns.

To promote business development, Straub supports an electronic sign on I-55 promoting the Burr Ridge Village Center and a re-done I-55 overpass that includes Burr Ridge branding.

“The bridge is a priority,” he said. “I want to make sure that bridge makes a statement about where Burr Ridge is.”

And remember that “mayor vs. village president” discussion a couple of months back? Straub said he’d rather be a mayor.

“I may take that to a vote and have a little survey,” Straub said.

Sodikoff, meanwhile, said his days serving on the board of trustees are likely over for good.

“I’ve had 25 years of public service and I’m proud of the time I spent,” said the former trustee who was first elected in 1999 after an extended run serving on the Plan Commission. “All journeys come to an end. It ended sooner than I would’ve liked, but this is America, the residents spoke, and I respect that decision.”

Sodikoff said he hopes Straub is an independent village president and not one heavily influenced by Gary Grasso, who endorsed Straub after stepping down from the same position last year to serve on the DuPage County Board of Commissioners.

Straub attributed part of his success to Grasso’s endorsement, but said he “absolutely” will be an independent voice.