Steve Friant Appointed to New Lenox Township Board Following Kaupas Resignation

New Lenox Township Board Meeting | December 11, 2025

Article Summary: Following the resignation of Trustee Barbara Kaupas, the New Lenox Township Board appointed Steve Friant to fill the vacant seat based on his standing in the previous election.

New Lenox Township Board Key Points:

• Trustee Barbara Kaupas submitted a letter of resignation.

• The board appointed Steve Friant, the next highest vote-getter from the last election, to fill the term until May 21, 2029.

• Friant was immediately sworn in and appointed to the Food Pantry and Senior Services committees.

The New Lenox Township Board of Trustees on Thursday, December 11, 2025, accepted the resignation of Trustee Barbara Kaupas and immediately moved to fill the vacancy.

Supervisor Cass Wennlund informed the board that a letter of resignation had been received from Kaupas. Following a motion by Trustee Patty Deiters and a second by Trustee Martin Boban, the board voted unanimously to accept the resignation.

Citing Illinois statute regarding the authority to appoint a replacement, Supervisor Wennlund recommended the appointment of Steve Friant. Wennlund noted that to recognize the will of the voters, it is appropriate to appoint the candidate who received the next highest number of votes in the last election. Friant will fill the remainder of Kaupas’s term, which runs through May 21, 2029.

Trustees voted unanimously to approve Friant’s appointment. Clerk Lynn Eckhardt administered the Oath of Office to Friant during the meeting.

Upon taking his seat, Friant was appointed by Supervisor Wennlund to serve on the same committees previously held by Kaupas: Food Pantry and Senior Services, including TRIAD. Friant participated in the remainder of the meeting’s voting actions.