Lidawer enters 2027 Highland Park mayoral race, setting up challenge to Rotering

Highland Park City Councilmember Annette Lidawer told The Record on Thursday that she will run for mayor in the April 2027 election, challenging four-term incumbent Nancy Rotering and opening what should become a competitive race.

“I am excited to run for the election because I think it’s time for change in Highland Park,” Lidawer said. “Highland Park is a wonderful place to live, work and be. But I think it can be even better.” 

Rotering, first elected in 2011, announced on Thursday that she is seeking a fifth term as mayor.

A Look Back 

Lidawer has lived in Highland Park for more than 25 years with her children advancing through local public schools. She was first elected to the City Council six years ago and has worked closely with the Mayor for a term and a half.

Before her City Council run, Lidawer served two terms on the board of education for Township High School District 113. She was president of the School Board for two years.

Then, Lidawer became a commissioner for the Plan & Design Commission for three years, an experience she said led her to believe in 2019 that the City needed a comprehensive plan.

While working on having that plan, she ran for City Council in 2021. While on the council, she became liaison for the Plan & Design Commission, the Human Relations Advisory Group and Sister Cities Commission. 

These experiences gave her “tremendous mentorship from the mayor and other councilmembers,” she said. 

A Look Ahead

Lidawer said she’ll focus on cultivating economic development, supporting local businesses and ushering in what she calls “another era into Highland Park.” 

If elected, Lidawer priorities are to have the comprehensive plan completed, allowing a 10- to 15-year roadmap for the City, and continue to recruit businesses to come to Highland Park.

She will also work with residents to make sure “vibrancy and development” are what they need and want on a comprehensive basis. 

“I am running against a very popular and very well known mayor,” Lidawer said. “She has been a tremendous leader in our community, but after 18 years of serving the community — four terms as mayor and two years as councilmember — I think it’s time for change.”  

A term-limit proposal, which Lidawer supports, that will be in front of Highland Park voters via referendum this November would cap service time on the council and as mayor at 10 years. If passed, however, the measure would not apply to current elected officials.

Lidawer said it’s important for constantly fresh ideas both from young families, people new to Highland Park and residents who’ve been here. To her, change would give the community a “nice balance, institutional knowledge and understanding coupled with new ideas.”

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