Tinley Park’s new mayor Monday promised “strong and decisive decisions” to move the community forward, and in Flossmoor Michelle Nelson took the oath as the first female mayor in the suburb’s nearly 100-year history.

Nelson was sworn in by her father, Michael Svetlic, a municipal judge in Missouri, where she grew up.

The ceremony was Homewood-Flossmoor High School in Flossmoor, and Nelson said several family members, including her parents, aunts and uncles, traveled long distances to see her take the oath.

Paul Braun, mayor since 2009, did not seek reelection and Nelson faced off against Dr. Lakshi Emory in the April 6 election.

Noting the level of volunteerism in the community, Nelson called Flossmoor “a community of doers,” and thanked “all the doers that made this campaign a success.”

With a background in civil engineering, Nelson said she has a keen interest in the village’s infrastructure, and during the campaign said she would establish an economic development commission and reinstate business incentives.

Sworn in along with Nelson were incumbent Trustee Brian Driscoll and George Lofton III, who had been appointed to the board and ran unopposed for a two-year term.

Also taking oaths were Joni Bradley-Scott, previously the village clerk, who was elected to one of three four-year trustee terms along with Gary Daggett.

In Frankfort, where Jim Holland did not seek a fifth term as mayor, Frankfort trustees John Clavio and Keith Ogle squared off with Ogle elected to succeed the longtime mayor.

Also sworn in were Village Clerk Katie Schubert, Trustee Eugene Savaria and new trustees Michael Leddin and Daniel Rossi. Former Frankfort Mayor Ray Rossi, now a Will County judge and not related to the new trustee, administered the oaths.

Ogle said he had no plans to shake up village staff but said he and the board would look at the composition of various committees and commissions.

“I am sure we will have great success working together,” he said.

Ogle campaigned on areas he believes need improvement, such as public safety and infrastructure.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us,” he said.

During a ceremony Monday at the Tinley Park Convention Center, former village mayors Dave Seaman and Ed Zabrocki welcomed Michael Glotz, a first-term

trustee, as the village’s 24th mayor.

Glotz faced Kevin Suggs, a former village trustee, in the mayoral race, but Suggs ended his candidacy in mid-March.

Jacob Vandenberg did not seek a second term as mayor and Cynthia Berg did not seek reelection as trustee.

Trustee William Brady, reelected to the board, and new trustees Dennis Mahoney and Colleen Sullivan were sworn in along with Clerk Kristin Thirion, who was reelected.

Glotz said everything is possible if officials work together, even if they fail from time to time.

“In order to be successful we will have to take risks,” he said. “We are going to make strong and decisive decisions and move our goals forward.”

Orland Park also had a swearing-in ceremony for Mayor Keith Pekau, elected to a second term, Village Clerk Patrick O’Sullivan and trustees Sean Kampas, Joni Radaszewski and Brian Riordan.

mnolan@tribpub.com