All four incumbent candidates have served the residents of Lake Forest with distinction since taking office. The Caucus Committee feels they will continue to ably serve the community over the next two years and the Committee asks residents of Lake Forest to join us in support of these candidates.  For Nick, we believe his skills, experience, and knowledge best position him to serve the residents of Lake Forest and help lead our community.

Learn more about the candidates below and you will have the opportunity to meet all of these candidates on October 29, between 7-9pm at Gorton Center.

Mayor Dr. Stanford “Randy” Tack was sworn into office on Monday, May 1, 2023. Dr. Tack earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois and attended the University of Illinois College of Medicine. Dr. Tack graduated with honors and completed his residency at the University of Illinois in Orthopedic Surgery. While in residency, he was recruited by Lake Forest Orthopedics and specialized in Spine Surgery, prompting a fellowship at Rush Medical Center. He moved to Lake Forest upon completion of his fellowship. Dr. Tack was founding board member of the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute. He was appointed Vice President of the Midwest Orthopedic Network and managing partner at the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute. Dr. Tack also served as President of the Lake Forest Club. Dr. Tack was elected as a Third Ward Alderman in 2011, serving multiple terms from 2012-2018. While Alderman, Dr. Tack served as the Chairman of the Public Works Committee and Fire Services Committee. From 2021-2022, he also served as Chair of the Central Business District Working Group.

Pete Clemens is a 30-year resident of Lake Forest and has lived in three of the City’s four Wards. Pete grew up in Minneapolis, MN and moved to Lake Forest following graduation from University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Business with a Bachelor of Science business degree in 1971. Pete joined American Hospital Supply and moved to Lake Forest following graduation.

Pete had a successful career in healthcare as a senior manager at American Hospital Supply, Baxter International, Becton-Dickinson and Company, Dade-Behring, Inc and BioGenex Laboratories. After some time on the West Coast, Pete, his wife Nancy and young son Chase moved back to Lake Forest in 1993. Pete was an Assistant Scoutmaster for Lake Forest Troop 46 where he was an Eagle Scout mentor and the Fundraiser Chair. Pete also co-chaired a major capital campaign for St. James Church and served as Church Council President. Pete has served on the Zoning Board of Appeals and also served on the LFHS Foundation Executive Committee as Vice-Chair for the Business Incubator Program. He serves on the Environmental Sustainability Committee.

John grew up in Lake Bluff, IL and attended the School of St. Mary in Lake Forest prior to attending St. Mary Central High School in Neenah, WI. John moved to Lake Forest with his wife Robin in 1995. He graduated with a BA in Economics from the University of Missouri-Columbia and received an MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management in 2000. John and Robin have a daughter and a son, both attended St. Mary’s and Lake Forest High School. John began his sales career in 1988 working for Scott Paper Company.

Over the past 35 years he has held numerous executive positions in both public and private companies in the fields of distribution, logistics, business development, marketing supply chain, private equity and currently as Director, National Accounts at Abbott Diabetes Care. John served on numerous committees at both the church and school of St. Mary, as a Ward 2 Member of the Lake Forest Caucus, an executive member of the Friends of Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Board, a trustee of Lake Forest Community High School District 115 and a board member at Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep High School in Waukegan, IL.

Richard is a 17-year resident of Lake Forest who has served in various volunteer community roles, including as a member of the Lake Forest Building Review Board (BRB) 2018 to 2023, member of the 2018-2022 Strategic Planning Committee, Deer Path Road Streetscape Committee, and Route 60 Corridor – Vision for the Future Committee. Rich is a licensed structural engineer who specializes in the evaluation and repair of bridges, infrastructure, and buildings. After earning Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Civil Engineering from Purdue University, Rich joined the firm of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE) where he has recently completed his 34th year of employment and is now retired.

Rich and his wife, Leanna, have been married 29 years and have two adult sons, both of whom attended Lake Forest public schools. Both sons earned their Eagle Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Rich, a fervent advocate of Servant Leadership, also thrived within the BSA programs serving as Cubmaster for Pack 148 (Everett School) and Scoutmaster for Troop 46 (First Presbyterian Church). In these roles, Rich guided more than 90 youth to complete their Eagle Scout Award and values the positive contributions these young men made to our community. He currently serves on the Public Works Committee.

Nick Bothfeld has been a proud resident of Lake Forest for nearly 30 years, with deep family ties to the community through his wife and her generations-long history in the area. Lake Forest has been an ideal place for Nick and his wife to raise their two children, who are now grown. Nick has dedicated much of his time to serving the community in various leadership roles. He has been actively involved with the Lake Forest Caucus for many years, and has held the positions of treasurer and president at the Winter Club. His extensive experience also includes serving as treasurer and board chair at the Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods, treasurer of the Alliance for the Great Lakes, and member of the finance committee for the Huron Mountain Club in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Currently, Nick is vice chair on the Gorton Center board, further reflecting his long-standing commitment to Lake Forest. Nick’s academic achievements include graduating magna cum laude from Harvard College and earning an MBA from the University of Chicago. He runs Bothfeld Financial Partners, a Lake Forest-based financial planning and investment advisory firm. Outside of work, Nick enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and fishing in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and he has a passion for travel, especially birding trips with his wife.