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Rintz to challenge Greable for Winnetka village president
Updated: December 23, 2012 6:11AM
WINNETKA
With the village trustee race heating up at Monday night’s Winnetka Caucus meeting, the race for village president appears it too could be heading down the same path.
Before the caucus officially endorsed Gene Greable as its candidate for village president in April’s election, former Trustee Christopher Rintz revealed he intends to run as an independent.
Rintz was considered by the caucus committee earlier this year, but members ultimately went with Greable.
“I was uncomfortable with the selection process and, on this election cycle, it really boils down to the voters of Winnetka to have a choice to lead the village through probably one of its most complicated periods,” Rintz said.
In addition to being a former trustee, Rintz has experience serving on many village committees and feels he has some clear ideas on how to tackle village issues, including stormwater management, downtown revitalization and what to do with the post office building.
Rintz has owned his own business for the last 22 years and cites his experience in the revitalization and redevelopment game through these tough economic times as reasons why he is qualified to lead the village. He estimates he has financed over $500 million worth of public and private improvements and has been involved in equally as much in public/private joint ventures.
Greable, himself a former trustee with village experience, became aware of Rintz’s intention to run last week and admitted he was “confused” when Rintz told him the news.
“The only explanation I got from Chris was that he thought the (Winnetka Home Owners Association) controlled me,” Greable said. “The WHOA or no one else controls Gene Greable. Every vote and everything I do will be for this community. As president I will continue to put community first and I will faithfully manage the resources of Winnetka.”
The issue of affordable housing has been a hot topic within the village in the past and Rintz says he has no intention of bringing it up again anytime soon.
“It was clear a majority of the council did not want to discuss that issue,” Rintz said. “Unless there’s a really broad-based mandate I couldn’t imagine bringing up such a difficult issue when there are so many other things facing the village.”
Rintz now must collect enough signatures to appear on the ballot alongside Greable. ~.
