A five-way primary race for the mayor of Evanston has been called as contentious as politics in neighboring Chicago.

In west suburban Aurora, several mayoral candidates have criticized an opponent's ties to Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, accusing the powerful lawmaker of trying to "buy control of the next Aurora mayor."

And in south suburban Dolton, an incumbent mayor who survived a recall effort last year will face off against two challengers.

The Feb. 28 primary could bring new leadership to some suburbs where the race essentially serves as the de facto election. In some others, the results will spur a run-off, with the top two candidates facing off in the April 4 general election.

Here are some of next week's high-profile contests from across the region:

Aurora

The second-largest city in the state will be getting its first new elected mayor in roughly 12 years, after longtime mayor Tom Weisner stepped down in the fall.

Aurora Beacon-News coverage of Aurora mayoral race

The Aurora Beacon-News's coverage of the Aurora mayoral race from the buildup to the February primary to the April general election.

The Aurora Beacon-News's coverage of the Aurora mayoral race from the buildup to the February primary to the April general election.

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Nine candidates are campaigning to lead this west suburb of roughly 200,000 residents. State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, Ald. Richard Irvin, Ald. Michael Saville and Rick Guzman, assistant chief of staff in the mayor's office, will officially be named on the ballot.

They'll also face five write-in opponents: Daniel Hoffman, Jeffrey Houghtaling, Thomas Benedetto, Eva Rodgers and David J. Howard. The top two finishers in the primary will then compete against one another in the April general election.

Controversy ensued over the summer when House Speaker Madigan threw a $1,000-a-plate fundraiser for Chapa LaVia.

In a joint statement, the three other candidates named on the ballot called the dinner a "blatant attempt by Speaker Madigan to buy control of the next Aurora mayor."

Chapa LaVia in turn accused the three of them of "taking the easy way out."

"They would rather run a campaign on fear right now," Chapa LaVia has said.

Berwyn

Mayor Robert Lovero faces challenger Theodore "Ted" Polashek, a firefighter in Cicero who has served as an alderman in this west suburb since 2009.

Lovero — elected as an alderman in 2000 and mayor in 2009 — has touted improving the suburb's finances and overseeing a revival in local business development.

"The commercial corridors have improved quite a bit since I've been mayor," he said in an email. "We've brought in some major businesses, especially what residents have asked for (like Starbucks)."

Polashek is running at the top of the Berwyn United slate of candidates, which has pledged to appoint an inspector general and conduct an audit of all contracts, vendors and equipment in this suburb of about 56,000 residents.

"I'm running to make sure that the books are balanced, our city services are great and public funds are responsibly utilized," Polashek said in an email. "I will ensure that our public funds go to what the residents of Berwyn want and need. Period."

The Democratic race is the only primary in Berwyn, so the winner is expected to be the next mayor.

Dolton

Court rules Dolton recall ordinance unconstitutional Phil Kadner

The Illinois Appellate Court on Monday ruled that a Dolton recall ordinance is unconstitutional because it was approved by a vote of village trustees without first going to a referendum.

The decision, which sets a legal precedent, would impact any effort by the Chicago City Council to recall Mayor...

The Illinois Appellate Court on Monday ruled that a Dolton recall ordinance is unconstitutional because it was approved by a vote of village trustees without first going to a referendum.

The decision, which sets a legal precedent, would impact any effort by the Chicago City Council to recall Mayor...

(Phil Kadner)

First Dolton Mayor Riley Rogers waged a campaign to recall three village trustees last year, then the trustees began collecting signatures in a separate bid to recall Rogers.

But both efforts were stymied when a local electoral board ruled there weren't enough valid signatures to prompt a recall referendum.

Now Rogers will face two challengers in the primary, village trustee Stanley "Stan" Brown — one of the three trustees involved in the recall attempts — and village trustee Duane Muhammad. The winner of the primary will be the next mayor in this south suburb of about 23,000 residents.

Evanston

Five candidates are vying for an open mayoral seat in a heated primary in this north suburb of about 75,500 residents.

Candidate Jeff Smith in December had filed challenges to remove from the ballot his opponents Ald. Brian Miller, Ald. Mark Tendam, Steve Hagerty and Gary Gaspard.

Evanston mayoral hopefuls call for strengthened city, Northwestern University partnership Genevieve Bookwalter

Evanston's five mayoral candidates described a future of working together with the city and Northwestern University as the two entities each look to save money and improve services for students and constituents.

The message was delivered at a mayoral forum on Feb. 7 on Northwestern's campus in...

Evanston's five mayoral candidates described a future of working together with the city and Northwestern University as the two entities each look to save money and improve services for students and constituents.

The message was delivered at a mayoral forum on Feb. 7 on Northwestern's campus in...

(Genevieve Bookwalter)

Prior to that, a supporter of Miller's had also attempted to disqualify candidates Tendam, Hagerty and Gaspard, before Smith had filed his candidacy.

The challenges had cited confusion and inconsistency over the candidate filing period, but both were unsuccessful.

Alderman and electoral board member Ann Rainey has indicated that politics here have become even more rancorous than in Chicago.

"Lately I've found it to be unpleasant, unkind, and really, even Chicago hasn't risen to this," Rainey has said.

If a candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote, the primary results will be final. If not, the two top vote-getters in the primary will face off in the general election in April.

Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl — who has led Evanston since 2009 — is stepping down after two terms.

Waukegan

Mayor Wayne Motley will face challenger Ald. Sam Cunningham in this north suburb of roughly 89,000 residents.

Waukegan mayoral race town hall scheduled to be held this week Luke Hammill

Candidates in Waukegan's mayoral race will appear Thursday evening at Wesley Free Methodist Church for a town hall meeting, which is open to the public.

The event, sponsored by the Waukegan Cares Foundation, begins at 7 p.m. at 3601 N. Lewis Ave. Doors open at 6:15 p.m., said Tom Granger, events...

Candidates in Waukegan's mayoral race will appear Thursday evening at Wesley Free Methodist Church for a town hall meeting, which is open to the public.

The event, sponsored by the Waukegan Cares Foundation, begins at 7 p.m. at 3601 N. Lewis Ave. Doors open at 6:15 p.m., said Tom Granger, events...

(Luke Hammill)

Motley has also worked as a Waukegan police officer, city clerk, chairman of the local housing authority and a commissioner on the Waukegan Park District board.

Cunningham has served as an alderman since 1999, and this is his fourth bid for mayor; he most recently lost to Motley by just 156 votes in 2013.

The winner will take on Ald. Lisa May, who is running as an independent, in the April general election. May is a former mortgage banker who founded the volunteer organization Friends of Waukegan Beach.

Reporters Genevieve Bookwalter, Dan Moran and Steve Lord contributed.

eleventis@chicagotribune.com

Twitter: @angie_leventis

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