Thomas Bennington returned to the DuPage County Board this week for a 14-month stint.

Bennington was tapped to take over for Kyle Gilgis, R-3rd District, of Downers Grove, who retired midterm in August.

Bennington, a Downers Grove resident who represented the 3rd District from 1998 until he was voted out of office last year, will serve until Gilgis’ term ends Dec. 1, 2010. He had been serving on the DuPage County Water Commission after being appointed to the panel.

Fourteen people applied to fill the open seat, but Bennington was not one of them. He said he does not intend to defend the seat in next year’s election, which is one of the reasons County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom picked him for the job.

“Petitions are being circulated right now for the February primary,” Bennington said. “A petition for me will not be out there.”

Several notable names from Downers Grove had applied for the seat including former mayor Brian Krajewski, current Village Commissioner Sean P. Durkin and former commissioner Martin Tully.

Other District 3 residents who applied for the seat were Gregory Abbott of Woodridge; Kenneth Abraham of Darien, Laurel Bowen of Downers Grove; Dennis Brennan of Hinsdale; Matthew Caruso of Hinsdale; Joseph Craig of Hinsdale; Michael Flynn of Downers Grove; Bill Haider of Downers Grove; Peggy McCracken of Downers Grove; Karol Sole of Westmont; and Anibal Taboas of Woodridge.

District 3 serves parts of Downers Grove, Westmont, Woodridge, Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills, Darien, Burr Ridge and Willowbrook.