At a special meeting of the Buffalo Grove Village Board Monday night, a new trustee was approved and seated, replacing another elected official who moved out the district and vacated his board seat.
Shortly after Village Trustee Gregory Pike announced his resignation, as of Sep. 19, due to him moving out of Buffalo Grove, Village President Eric Smith had identified Denice Bocek as the choice to replace Pike.
Pike had been a trustee since 2019 and officials said in a news release that “his presence will be missed.”
Monday, a new chapter began for the village, with Bocek sworn in during the special meeting and seated in time for the start of the village’s regular board meeting the same night.
She fills the remainder of Pike’s term and will then have to run in 2027 to be elected to the seat. He won reelection April 4, giving Bocek nearly a full four years in the appointed post.
“Denice brings a wealth of knowledge, a commitment to public service and a passion for Buffalo Grove to the Village Board,” Smith previously said.
According to a village news release, Bocek is a 27-year resident of Buffalo Grove who served on the village’s Plan Commission for 12 years, including being secretary and vice chairman. Additionally, she was on the Sign Code and Appearance Review Team committees.
Following her service on the Plan Commission, officials said Bocek remained actively involved in the community. She is credited with championing the village’s pet store ordinance, she participated in the review and update of the animal ordinance, and the Lake-Cook Corridor Plan development and the recent strategic planning community engagement sessions.
Smith said he found valuable Bocek’s more than 30 years in commercial real estate construction and development, especially as Buffalo Grove deals with redevelopment projects.
