The son of one of Winnetka’s loudest opponents of affordable housing is tentatively slated by the Winnetka Caucus as one of its three candidates for village trustee.

But issues like affordable housing were not part of the slating decision, members of the Winnetka Caucus Candidates Committee said.

The volunteer group sifted through 13 applicants to select three candidates to run for village trustee in the March 2012 election: Jack Buck, Patrick Corrigan and Stuart McCrary.

The trio will be reviewed and potentially approved Oct. 27 at a Caucus Council meeting, before seeking approval from the community at the Nov. 12 Town Meeting.

Buck is the son of Carry Buck, leader of local political organization Winnetka Home Owners Association, which has campaigned against a recent proposal to expand the village’s affordable housing ordinance.

In his application to the Caucus for consideration, Jack Buck wrote that “no matter what an individual’s beliefs are, Winnetka has been and should be a diverse and accepting community. If chosen to represent the citizens of Winnetka, I will work hard to ensure that all voices and opinions are heard.”

In an interview, Buck said he doesn’t have an opinion on the Winnetka affordable housing proposal. He also said his mother played no role in his candidacy, and that he has not been involved with WHOA.

“She’s just my mom,” Buck said, stressing his independence. “Maybe she’ll be writing bad things about me someday. Who knows? It’ll make Thanksgiving more interesting that way.”

Storm water management, he added, should be considered the village’s top issue.

Buck’s mother reacted to her son’s slating in an email to WHOA.

“Believe me, I was shocked that he applied and very proud that he was chosen as one of the three recommended Caucus Candidates,” she wrote. “As Chairman of WHOA, I believe I can speak on behalf of all of us, and say … we wish all the candidates only the very best.”

At the same time voters will decide on local village council members, they will also have the opportunity to register their opinions on two affordable housing-related referenda that Buck’s mother was instrumental in placing on the ballot.

Penny Lanphier, the Caucus Candidates Committee chairwoman, said affordable housing — or any other issue, for that matter — played no role in the group’s selection process.

“We try to slate people who do not have a single issue. That really is the most important thing on our minds,” she said.

A proposal to expand the affordable housing plan has divided the village, and the issue played a significant role in the April election. The Winnetka Home Owners Association, which opposes affordable housing, threw its support to an independent candidate — Jennifer Spinney –rather than all three on the Caucus-backed slate.

Spinney and the two Caucus-slated candidates, all of whom received WHOA’s endorsement, were elected.

Buck is a life-long Winnetka resident and a graduate of New Trier High School, the University of Notre Dame and the University of Chicago Business School. He is Senior Vice President in the Development Group for the John Buck Company.

Corrigan has lived in Winnetka for 12 years and is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School. He is an independent real estate developer who focuses primarily on retail and medical office buildings.

McCrary is a 21-year Winnetka resident and holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Northwestern University. He has previously worked for various financial institutions and is currently an economic consultant for Navigant.

Members of the Candidates Committee met at 2 p.m. Oct. 17 in Winnetka’s Station Park, across from Village Hall, to announce Buck, Corrigan and McCrary. Committee members agreed that they sought residents with open minds who strive to reach consensus.

“There was a lot of talent to offer,” Lanphier said, adding that the Council will be “well-prepared to really address the serious issues that are facing our community with the returning three trustees and President (Jessica) Tucker.”

“Democracy is a messy system, but a caucus is a great way for citizens to get involved,” Lanphier said.