County Board candidate earns J.D. by Jeff Zachary January 30, 2004       Round Lake News

After nearly four years of study at John Marshall Law School, including three years of summer school and six weeks at the University of Vienna, Bryan Gutraj has earned his Juris Doctorate. Gutraj is a Grayslake tax accountant and is running for the Lake County Board in District 6. The district includes parts of Round Lake Park; Third Lake, Grayslake and Gurnee. "Although I will not sit far the bar exam until July, as I have an incredibly busy few months ahead with tax season and my campaign for the Lake County Board, I am excited to have completed law school," Gutraj said. Gutraj was joined by family and friends at a reception at Jimmy's Char House in Libertyville to celebrate his accomplishment. Among the dignitaries attending the celebration were District 62 state Rep. Bob Churchill (R-Hainesville), District 51 state Rep. Ed Sullivan Jr. (R-Mundelein) and Circuit Court Judge Ray McKoski. Asked for his thoughts on incumbent Don Bauer's decision to withdraw from the board race, Gutraj said: "Don Bauer is going out on top. He has never last an election. I really like Don and we both have the same ideological philosophies. I hope to tap into his knowledge when I become a county board member." Gutraj, 28, is a lifelong Republican and began serving as a precinct committeeman at the age of 18. In 2402, Gutraj lost to incumbent Sandy Cole in the District 11 Republican primary by 700 votes. Since that election, Gutraj has purchased a home in 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 bro[her, John Paul Gutraj, are also graduates of Grayslake Community High School. Gutraj's parents and his brother attended the celebration party at Jimmy's Char House.