Lake Forest residents will have candidates for Alderman in Ward 1, 2 and 4.  This year the Caucus Committee voted to put forth three candidates again for another term, and advance a new candidate.

Ward 1 - Nancy Pretrick Novit

Ward 2 - Ted Notz (2nd Term Election)

Ward 3 - Jim Preschlack (3rd Term Election)

Ward 4 - Eileen Looby Weber (2nd Term Election)

Nancy Petrick Novit has been practicing law since 1986. She graduated from St. Lawrence University, and earned her Juris Doctor from John Marshall Law School in 1986.  Prior to graduating from law school, Nancy worked as a legislative aid and in 1986, she joined the Office of the Cook County Public Defender’s office as an Assistant Public Defender from 1986 – 1990. In 1990, she founded Novit & Novit LLC with her husband, and Nancy turned her attention to real estate law, business law and trusts and estates law. Today, Nancy is a general practice attorney representing her clients in a variety of matters. She prides herself on managing all aspects of every case or transaction, from inception through completion.

Nancy is a strong community advocate and has volunteered her time, skills and abilities to aiding many worthy nonprofit organizations in Lake Forest and Lake County, Illinois.  There are few corners of Lake Forest left unexplored by Nancy Novit. As a real estate attorney, parent and perpetual volunteer, she’s engaged with nearly all of Lake Forest’s many amenities. Her current standing as a member of Lake Forest’s Zoning Board of Appeals keeps her very aware of what’s going on within Ward 1 and City government as a whole.

Nancy terms off of ZBA this spring after six years of service. In this position she is most proud of streamlining the approval process for homeowners who desire to make changes to their properties. Now homeowners start with the Zoning Board so any required variances are defined prior to design input before petitioners go to the Historic Preservation Commission or Building Review (if applicable) for needed approvals. Prior to Nancy’s intervention, homeowners often found themselves needing to go back multiple times before various boards.

Nancy and her husband Kent moved into Ward 1 near Lake Forest College with their two young preschool daughters 29 years ago. Like many Lake Forest parents, Nancy initially got involved with the community through her children. Nancy served on the First Presbyterian Preschool Board, managed the Purses and Bags area of the Church’s famous Rummage Sale, was on numerous District 67 & 115 committees, volunteered with Ragdale, Infant Welfare Society, I Have a Dream of North Chicago, The History Center of Lake Forest and Lake Bluff, and is currently the Treasurer of the League of Women Voters. Of all these, Nancy is best remembered for being the daily volunteer who sat behind the desk keeping the Gorton Center open and running when financial concerns threatened to shut it down. Nancy’s work helping to analyze the then-current financial structure, program efficiencies, leases and room rental agreements, along with creating marketing, program and rental initiatives to increase use, returned Gorton to financial stability.

Today, Nancy looks forward to bringing her many experiences as a Lake Forest resident to the City Council as a Ward 1 Alderman. She is eager to meet new residents, greet familiar faces, and help those in Ward 1 address matters concerning the City. She is excited to collaborate with her fellow City Council members to continue building upon the City’s long history of strong fiscal management and community engagement.

Edward “Ted” U. Notz Jr. is a senior relationship manager with Associated Bank’s commercial real estate group in Chicago, helping institutional real estate developers, investment funds, and service providers with their financing needs. Ted is a lifelong Lake Forest resident, growing up in Villa Turicum and graduating from Cherokee, Deerpath and Lake Forest High School. He returned in 1998 to begin raising a family in the H.O. Stone neighborhood with his wife and fellow Lake Forest native, Tiffany Edwards. They have two children, a 22-year-old daughter and 20-year-old son, who both have gone through Lake Forest’s public school system and have been active in the community.

Ted was appointed in October 2019 to serve as Ward 2 Alderman and has been actively involved with city affairs over the years, serving as chairman of the Building Review Board, on the Zoning Board of Appeals, Lake Forest Caucus, Historic Preservation Foundation, and several ad hoc committees, including the Laurel Avenue Redevelopment Commission.  He has held senior leadership roles at First Presbyterian Church and has served on the board of the Lake County Community Foundation. Ted’s interest in public service began as an undergraduate, with internships with the Lake Forest city manager, on Capitol Hill for Illinois’ 10th District Congressman, and in The White House in D.C.  He graduated from Denison with a BA in political science and DePaul with an MBA.  

Ted deeply appreciates the invaluable contributions Caucus, city staff, and resident volunteers make to ensure Lake Forest functions effectively and efficiently, preserving the cherished characteristics of the community while making sure it is positioned to be relevant into the future.

Jim Preschlack took office May 2018 as Third Ward Alderman. He first came to the community with his family in 1977 and has called Lake Forest home base ever since.  Jim received a BA in Economics from Hamilton College and an MBA from the University of Rochester.  In 1998, Jim moved back to Lake Forest and married his wife Paula Lillard Preschlack, who also grew up in town.  They currently reside in the Knollwood Club with their two teenagers, Stanley and Lillard, and their standard poodles, Louis and Pippy.

Jim worked as a management consultant before and after business school with Accenture, Arthur D. Little and KPMG Consulting, where he specialized in helping companies define and implement large scale transformational change programs.  In 2016, Jim co-founded InFlow Partners, a boutique business accelerator based in Lake Forest that helps early stage companies develop "go-to market" strategies, acquire new customers, and raise capital to scale their businesses. 

Jim has been active in the community, volunteering for the Lake Forest Caucus, the Historic Preservation Commission as a member and as its Chairman, the Vestry of the Church of the Holy Spirit, and Beacon Academy, a Montessori High School in Evanston.  Jim serves as the Chairman of the Public Works Committee, City Host of the Lake Forest Collaborative for Environmental Leadership, and is a member of the Environmental Sustainability Committee and the Finance Committee.

Eileen Looby Weber was born and raised in Lake Forest. She pursued a bachelor’s degree in Horticultural Production & Marketing at Purdue University. It was her love of flowers and working with people that led Eileen to join Lake Forest Flowers. She earned an MBA at Lake Forest Graduate School of Management while continuing to manage the business.

As a member of the Society of American Florists and American Academy of Floriculture, Eileen teaches hands-on floral workshops and demonstrations at Elawa Farm, Evanston Art Center, and many North Shore Park Districts & garden clubs. She began her City Council Role in 2020 after serving on the Cemetery Commission, Waukegan Road/Settler’s Square & Route 60 Corridor Working Groups. Eileen chair’s the Civic Beautification Committee and is a member of the Environmental Sustainability Committee.

She is an active volunteer for the Church and School of St. Mary, a member of the Junior Garden Club of Lake Forest and Purdue Agriculture Alumni Board of Directors.  Her past volunteer service includes the LF-LB Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Past President of the Lake Forest Caucus, Past President of the Amberley Woods Condominium Association and Board Member/Committee Chair of Carmel Catholic High School Board of Directors.

Eileen and her husband, Brian, have two sons, Michael (6) and Edward (3). When not at the flower shop, you can find her gardening, playing golf, or with her boys in the community she adores.