Fourth Acting Mayor in Four Months Appointed by Des Plaines City Council

Des Plaines aldermen appointed Sixth Ward Alderman Mark Walsten acting Mayor of Des Plaines at a meeting on Monday. Walsten is the fourth city council member to fill the vacancy left by former mayor and now state Rep. Marty Moylan (D-Des Plaines) since January. Walsten will serve in the office until Mayor-elect Matt Bogusz is sworn in on May 6.

City council voted 5-1 to appoint Walsten. Seventh Ward Alderman Dan Wilson voted “present,” Third Ward Alderman and Mayor-elect Matt Bogusz arrived several minutes after the vote was taken. Second Ward Alderman John Robinson voted against Walsten’s appointment.

“I feel like I was left out of the picking of the next mayor, and I don’t feel it’s right to myself and my constituents,” Robinson said.

Fourth Ward Alderman Dick Sayad served as acting mayor since February 19. Prior to that, First Ward Alderman Patricia Haugeberg and Eighth Ward Alderman Michael Charewicz served as acting mayor to fill the vacancy left by Rep. Marty Moylan (D-Des Plaines) when he resigned on Dec. 31.

Sayad thanked city staff for their work with him during this two-and-a-half month term as acting mayor.

“I had a very interesting experience that I really believe we should all go through to see really what’s going on,” Sayad said.

Walsten said Sayad filled the position in a very good, professional way.

“[Sayad] kept us informed about things that were going on in the city, which is something that has been lacking over the last four years, is the aldermen being informed about many things going on in the city, and I want to thank you for that,” Walsten said.

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