| Gutraj to challenge Bauer for county board By Jeff Zachary October 23, 2003 Round Lake News |
Freshmen District 6 Lake County Board member Don Bauer will have a challenger in the 2004 Republican primary. Bryan Gutraj, 28, a Grayslake resident and a Certified Public Accountant has announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for District 6 of the Lake County Board. The primary election will be held Tuesday, March 16, 2004. Covering parts of Grayslake, Gurnee, Round Lake Park, and Third Lake, the district's boundaries were redrawn 2 years ago, following the 2000 census. Having been born and raised in central Lake County, Gutraj is a lifelong Republican and began serving as a precinct committeeman at the age of 18. During the last 10 years, Gutraj has worked on various campaigns from the Lake County Courthouse to the halls of Congress. After graduating from Grayslake Community High School, Gutraj earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Illinois University. He passed all four parts of the CPA Exam in November 2000. Currently in his final semester of law school, Gutraj expects to earn his Juris Doctor degree in January 2004 from John Marshall Law School in Chicago. Residing in the Washington Village subdivision in Grayslake, Gutraj owns an accounting and tax practice which is also in Grayslake. Previously he worked in accounting and finance for Baxter International and General Electric. Gutraj has served as the financial Controller of a medium sized direct marketing firm in Wood Dale, where he oversaw all finance and accounting functions. In 2002, Bryan lost to powerful finance committee chairwoman and entrenched incumbent, Sandy Cole in the republican primary by only 700 votes. Since that election, Gutraj has purchased a home in the neighboring District 6. Gutraj is the son of retired Grayslake Police Sergeant and former interim Police Chief, Conrad Gutraj, and Condell Hospital Medical Technologist, Vivian Gutraj. His sister Tiffany Gutraj-Rosik and brother John Paul Gutraj are also graduates of Grayslake Community Highschool. In commenting on his run, Gutraj said, "Having grown up in Grayslake, I have watched any of the issues facing the county that have evolved over the past several decades. I will bring my education and experience to the board and add common sense to many areas affecting the residents of Lake County." In an apparent reference to the aging Bauer, Gutraj added, "It is time for a new generation of leaders to come forward and address the issues facing our county, our state, and our country. Serving in public office is not an entitlement in this nation. It involved gaining the respect of your Constituency and maintaining that trust by listening to and tirelessly representing their interests in government. It is that respect I hope to have earned through my work growing up in the community, my extensive community involvement, and business relationships I have developed." |