Toya Smith chosen for Highland council seat
Choice for 2nd Ward the first Black councilwoman in town’s history
Toya Smith stood outside the Wicker Memorial Park Clubhouse on the phone slightly dazed while her mother, Pearlie Hawk, beamed.
After four rounds of voting, Smith, 49, became on Wednesday night the town’s first Black councilwoman in the Town of Highland’s 112-year history. She beat out fellow Precinct Committeeman Jack Rowe, 46; and resident Peggy Glennie, 60, during the town caucus to replace Mark Herak, D-2nd, who was sworn in as clerk-treasurer earlier this month.
Smith is not, however, the first woman, said Highland Democratic Chairwoman Marsha Novak. That honor went to Nancy Powell, who replaced Thurman Ferree by caucus.
After the three candidates gave their speeches to the 20 eligible, voting precinct committee people, the first vote was 10 for Rowe, nine for Smith and one for Glennie, said Lake County Election Board
Director Michelle Fajman, who, as the county Democratic Party’s vice chair, ran the caucus in Lake County Democratic Chairman James Wieser’s absence. Because Glennie received the least votes, she was dropped from the ballot per caucus rules, Fajman said.
A second vote came out 10-10, as did the third, Fajman said, so she asked the two candidates to speak again to the committee people. The fourth vote was then taken, and again it was 10-10.
In that instance, it’s up to the party chair or their proxy —
Fajman, in this case — to break the tie. Fajman then cast her vote for Smith.
Fajman, for whom Smith works in the Election Board office in Crown Point, said she’s very proud of Smith, who’s been involved in the party since shortly after she moved to Highland in 2007.
“(Smith) has been an excellent precinct committeeperson and serves the party as well as all the other work she does throughout the county,” Fajman said. “She’s
one of the most giving individuals I know, and I’ve told her before that I aspire to be more like her. (Smith’s win) is well-deserved.”
Glennie, who entered the race over the weekend at the behest of neighbors and friends in the 2nd Ward, said it was interesting to watch the process in action. She congratulated Smith on her win.
“I’m very happy to see a woman — and a woman of color, at that — on the council,” Glennie said. “(Smith) does a lot of charity work, and I think we need more people like Toya on our town boards truly working to make the town a better place.”
Rowe didn’t respond to a request for comment Wednesday evening.
Smith said she was overwhelmed by the support and encouragement she received all day Wednesday from friends and strangers alike.
Toya Smith stood outside the Wicker Memorial Park Clubhouse on the phone slightly dazed while her mother, Pearlie Hawk, beamed. said. “I’m humbled and this is amazing. I open to working across the aisle to get things done.”
Smith’s mother got to watch the vote from the outside looking in. She said she was nervous for her daughter but knows she’ll do a fantastic job.
“My daughter is a fair person; she’s everybody’s person,” Hawk said, still smiling. “I know that coming from the South Side of Chicago, I couldn’t do what she does.”
Precinct Committeeman Al Simmons, D-15, agreed that Smith is a “people
person” who’s always there for the community and said she’ll “be great for Highland.”
Herak swore in Smith shortly after the final vote. Her first council meeting will be the April 4 study session.