Elmwood Park President Recall Could Have a Primary

Elmwood Park will likely see a primary now that another resident has stepped forward to run in the upcoming village president recall election.

Trustee Dave Cattoi told Patch Wednesday that he was approached by a group of residents to throw his hat into the ring now even though he was already planning to run in April.

calling for the recall of Village President Audrey Viau. The Friends of the Village of Elmwood Park circulated a list of reasons they want new leadership, but what spurred them to action was what they say were secret meetings with Walmart.

Viau has denied doing anything behind closed doors, and on July 5,

Cattoi said he's running now because he wants to help the village.

"I made sure I told Audrey myself so she would hear it from me," he said. "This is not to hurt her but to help the village."

How he hopes to do that is by promoting and following a policy of open and transparent government. Cattoi said he doesn't expect the ride to be smooth.

"Oh, we're going to make mistakes. I am going to make a lot of mistakes if I'm elected," he said. "But I will be the first one to stand up and admit I made that mistake. Part of the problem, why people are upset, is because we make the mistakes, but then we sweep it under the rug."

It is that attitude and approach that Bobbie Krug said spurred people to ask Cattoi to run in the recall.

"Dave is a fair and calming influence and we need that here," she said.

But she also defended Viau, whom she said is a neighbor and long-time friend.

"Audrey is a good neighbor and friend and she has worked very hard for a lot of years for the good of this village," Krug stated. "No one has run against her for so long and now people are mad? This is so wrong."

Still, she said she feels like Viau will be defeated because the Friends are so organized, but it's important to pull residents back together and she thinks Cattoi is the person to get it done.

Cattoi is a former teacher, principal and college professor who runs his own business helping train teachers to be more effective. He has been an Elmwood Park trustee since 2006 when he ran as a write-in candidate. Since he took his seat, he led the efforts to launch a village website and to get an email newsletter started.

There is an issue he wants to get out front; a few years ago he admits to using village resident email addresses to solicit donations to juvenile diabetes in honor of his granddaughter who lives with the disease and nearly died from it.

"It was a complete and total misuse of the email list, and I take full responsibility still," he said. "I did write an apology letter and hand-delivered them to each home in the village because it was wrong."

Cattoi said he is talking about that incident because he knows it will come up and hopes that being open and honest about the email incident can show residents that's just part of who he is.

"Everyone wants what's best for the village," he said. "I don't ever want to see 'secrets' and 'Elmwood Park' put together ever again so it's time to work together. I don't care of people shout. I just want to listen."

The Elmwood Park Village Board meets again on Augut 9, and they will set the recall date at that time. Once a date is approved, candidates can take out papers and start collecting the 20 signatures needed to get their name on the ballot.